1. CBC, Chemical profile; blood lipids; cardiovascular risk factors and inflammatory cytokines and adipokines (time 0, week 16, week 32): Electrolytes, liver function tests, fasting glucose, lipid panel and insulin levels will be measured by Quest labs. PAI-1 will be measured by a colorimetric assay (Chemicon, Temecula, CA). Homocysteine, fibrinogen, hsCRP and ICAM-1 will be assayed by the UCSF clinical laboratory using standard analytical methods. Commercial kits will be used to measure fasting serum non-esterified fatty acids (Wako Diagnostics kit ;Richmond Virginia); serum TNF-α , IL-6, adiponectin and leptin (Quantikine HS high sensitivity ELISA ;R & D Systems, Minneapolis, MN