All participants followed a low-energy diet (1315 kcal/daily) based on Mediterranean diet for 12 weeks, supplement with 20 g / day of hemp protein. The specific menu was designed by a trainee nutritionist. The program prescribed five meals a day, with the time customized to fit the lifestyle of each patient. Based on the baseline metabolism, the energy and nutritional parameters of every patient were computed. Patients reported the dietary intake data daily.

The intervention included face to face visit every two weeks, individual nutrition counseling and education sessions.

Pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, including NFα, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, ICAM-1, MCP-1, leptin, and adiponectin, in plasma will be measured using appropriate methods (EIA, ELISA, and/or Bioplex multiplex system) (mg/dl).

Total cholesterol and triglycerides (TAG) (mg/dL) were determined by enzymatic methods (CHOD-PAP and GPO-PAP, respectively; Roche Diagnostics, Basel, Switzerland). High density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) (mg/dL= was determined after precipitation with phosphotungstic acid. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (mg/dL) was calculated with the Firedewald formula. Blood glucose levels, measured by biochemical procedures (mg/dL).

The amino acid content in plasma (μmol/L) samples analyses were carried out in the University of Sevilla (General Microanalysis Research Service), using an amino acid analyzer BIOCHROM 30, following an amino acid analysis method based on ion exchange chromatography with post column derivatization with ninhydrin.

Mineral content (μgl/L) was evaluated using UV or colorimetrics commercial kits (Bioscience Medical).