*2.3. Subjects*

Seven generally healthy older subjects (3 male, 4 female) aged 63.3 ± 9.1 years (mean ± SEM) were recruited from Boston metropolitan area by the Metabolic Research Unit (MRU) of the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts University. All study participants completed the trial. The mean baseline lipid profile values of the seven subjects were as follows: total cholesterol (TC), 206 ± 18; triglycerides (TG), 94 ± 13; low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C]), 135 ± 14; high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) 52 ± 7 mg/dL. Mean plasma vitamin A, C, and E concentrations were 57 ± 14 μg/dL, 0.9 ± 0.1 mg/dL, and 978 ± 123 μg/dL, respectively. Mean body weight of participants was 71 ± 6 kg; body mass index (BMI) was 25.4 ± 1.3 kg/m2; and systolic and diastolic blood pressure values were 128 ± 8 and 74 ± 6 mmHg, respectively. All participants were in good health and had no evidence of chronic disease on the basis of a medical history questionnaire, physical examination, electrocardiogram test, and results within normal limits of standard clinical laboratory tests, as well as fulfilling the following eligibility criteria: (1) no history of CVD, hepatic, gastrointestinal, or renal disease; (2) no alcoholism; (3) no use of antibiotics; (4) no use of supplemental multivitamins or minerals for ≥4 weeks (3 months for 60 mg vitamin C, 30 IU vitamin E, and/or 70 μg selenium) before the start of the study; and (5) no recent history of smoking. The study was approved by and performed under the guidelines of the Institutional Review Board at Tufts University Health Sciences Campus (project code: #5822). Informed consent was obtained from each subject before any study procedures were performed. Subjects were instructed not to consume alcohol or take other medications for 1 week prior to all study visits. They were also asked to consume a low-flavonoid diet for 1 week before study visits, according to the low-flavonoid diet guideline designed by the study dietitian, in which all berries, apples, pears, citrus fruits, fruit juices, onions, chocolate, wine, coffee, any kind of tea, beans, nuts, soy products, and most spices were excluded from their daily diets.
