ARRIVE Guidance notes  

1.	Bias: To avoid bias linked to the use of experimental mice, especially linked to the underestimation of the real effect of an intervention, we used 5 mice per group whereas the blood samples were taken from 4 mice at 0,2,4,6 weeks (see pages 4 and 5 for subtitles: 2.1.2 and 2.1.3 of the manuscript). 
2.	Descriptive and inferential statistics : Statistical methods were used in the study (see page 5, subtitle 2.1.4 of the manuscript) 
3.	Effect size: The quantitative measurement of the differences between the groups was carried out in the study during the statistical analysis (see page 5, subtitle 2.1.4 of the manuscript).
4.	Experimental unit: We subjected mice to three independent interventions (different dietary treatments and different types of physical exercise) to induce CVD in these mice and the supplementation of EGCG for therapy to this induced CVDs mice (see pages 4 for subtitle: 2.1.2 of the manuscript).
5.	External Validity: The results of the study showed that EGCG can be used as a new next-of-kin therapy to treat human patients with CVD (last sentence on page 3, last sentence of discussion on page 8, and last sentence of conclusion on page 9 of the manuscript). 
6.	False negative : N/A
7.	False positive : N/A
8.	Independent variable is treatment: diets and physical exercise, condition: mice three months old before experimentation, time: experimentation time: six weeks, sample property: male mice and technical characteristics: designation cages and sample collection (see page 4 and 5 for points 2.1.2 and 2.1.3 of the manuscript).
 
9.	Internal Validity: The study results supported the intervention in that the results demonstrated that a high-fat diet and sedentary lifestyle increases hyperlipidemia and high glucose levels and therefore predisposes mice to CVD. Furthermore, the results showed that EGCG supplementation reduced the glucose and lipid profile, which confirms that EGCG supplementation, represents a new therapeutic approach to treat CVD (pages 5 and 6 of the manuscript). 

10.	Nuisance variable: N/A

11.	Null hypothese : N/A

12.	Alternative hypothesis: The alternative hypothesis can be found in the purpose of the study (page 3, last line of the manuscript): The purpose of this study was to determine the potential effect of EGCG, diet and sedentary exercise on the development of hyperlipidemia which may eventually culminate into CVD in mice 

13.	Outcome measure: Blood lipid profile (Total Cholesterol, LDL Cholesterol, HDL Cholesterol and triglycerides) and glucose (see page 5 for point 2.1.3 of the manuscript).

14.	Power : N/A

15.	Sample size: n = 5 mice per group. We used 12 groups and the experiment is repeated twice (see page 4 for point 2.1.2 of the manuscript). 

Summary of the 10 Essentials ARRIVE 

Note that there is no ranking overall for the 10 essential ARRIVES opposite; the elements are presented in a logical order. 

1.	Study design : This is an experimental study using a mouse model. A total of 120 mice were used for the study, ie 60 mice for each experiment. These mice received dietary treatment and exercise treatment. For dietary treatment, a normal diet and a low-fat diet were considered as control treatment and for physical exercises, voluntary physical exercise and chronic physical exercise were considered as control (see page 4 for point 2.1.2 of the manuscript). 

2.	Sample size: n = 5 mice per group. We used 12 groups and the experiment is repeated twice, ie total of 120 mice (see page 4 for point 2.1.2 of the manuscript). 

3.	Inclusion and exclusion criteria : Was included in the study male mice aged three months during the period of the beginning of the experiment. Female mice were excluded from the study to avoid the hormonal influence that could influence the results (see page 4 for point 2.1.2 of the manuscript).

4.	Randomisation : We subjected mice to three independent interventions (different dietary treatments and different types of physical exercise) to induce CVD in these mice and the supplementation of EGCG for therapy to this induced CVDs mice (see page 4 for subtitle: 2.1.2 of the manuscript)

5.	Blinding : For each animal, four different investigators were involved as follows: a first investigator helped us in feeding the mice and subjecting the mice to chronic physical exercises based on the randomization table. This investigator was the only person aware of the treatment group assignment. A second investigator assisted us with the anesthesia procedure when collecting blood samples, while a third investigator assisted us with the determination of Total Cholesterol, LDL Cholesterol and Cholesterol HDL. Finally, a fourth investigator (also unaware of the treatment) helped us with the dosage of triglycerides and glucose. However, the investigators involved were Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) certified (see page 11: Acknowledgements of the manuscript).
6.	Outcome measure: Blood lipid profile (Total Cholesterol, LDL Cholesterol, HDL Cholesterol and triglycerides) and glucose (see page 5 for point 2.1.3 of the manuscript).

7.	Statistical methods: All data were shown as mean ± standard deviation (SD), one-way ANOVA) followed by Tukey –Kramer multiple comparison test, pairwise correlation. Most of the statistical tests, the level of significance was fixed at P<0.05 (see page 5 for point 2.1.4 of the manuscript).

8.	Experimental animals: Three month old Albino swiss male mice were acquired from animal facility of College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (COVAB) of Makerere University (see page 4 for subtitle: 2.1.2 of the manuscript).
9.	Experimental procedures : The experimental procedures have been described in points 2.1.1, 2.1.2 and 2.1.3 for pages 4 and 5 of the manuscript. For anesthesia, we followed the procedures found in AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals: 2013 Edition 
10.	 Results :To present the results, we used the statistical methods described in point 2.1.4 of the manuscript, which enabled us to present these results in the form of graphs, lines and tables found in the manuscript and in the supplementary data.