^aInstitute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), Ludwig-Maximilians University (LMU), Munich, Germany

^bDepartment of Medical Biochemistry, Academic Medical Center (AMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Correspondence to Norbert Gerdes, Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Pettenkoferstr. 9, 80336 Munich, Germany. Tel: +49 89 4400 54672; e-mail: norbert.gerdes@med.uni-muenchen.de