The LDL resistance against Cu2+-induced oxidation was determined according to the methodof Chen et al. [25]. Briefly, LDL particles were collected using an ultracentrifugation protocol.LDL (182 nmol/L) was oxidized by 10 mol/L CuSO4 with (or without) in vitro addition of a finalconcentration of 6 mol/L -tocopherol in a total volume of 1.0 mL phosphate buffer. The additionof -tocopherol was intended to amplify any potential antioxidant effect of absorbed ASP on LDLresistance against oxidation [24]. Formation of conjugated dienes was monitored by absorbance at234 nm at 37 C using a UV1601 spectrophotometer (Shimadzu Corp, Kyoto, Japan). The results of theLDL oxidation are expressed as lag time (defined as the intercept at the abscissa in the diene-time plot).The intra- and inter-assay CV was 1.8% and 7.5%, respectively.