The relationship of fasting insulin levels to vascular risk factors in a general practice in Northern Ireland.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between insulin and vascular risk factors in a healthy male population at high risk of ischaemic heart disease.


METHODS
Computer-generated random number selection of subjects.


METHODS
A suburban general practice population (total practice population 4500) in Northern Ireland.


METHODS
Four hundred male subjects, aged 35-65 years, were randomly selected with 273 responding.


METHODS
At interview, each subject completed a questionnaire, had blood pressure measured and a 12-lead ECG recorded. The next morning, fasting blood samples were taken and a timed overnight urine collection for the albumin excretion rate was returned.


RESULTS
To exclude the confounding effects of other variables on insulin concentrations, a healthy nonobese, nondiabetic, normotensive group with no history of ischaemic heart disease, no family history of diabetes and not taking drugs was identified (n = 120). Within this group there was a significant correlation between insulin and triglyceride (r = 0.30; P < 0.05), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (r = 0.24; P < 0.05) and glucose (r = 0.30; P < 0.05). A group with higher insulin levels (n = 22) were compared to a group with lower insulin levels (n = 22). Serum triglyceride was higher (1.29 +/- 0.1 vs. 1.00 +/- 0.08 mmol L-1; P < 0.05), HDL cholesterol was lower (1.26 +/- 0.06 vs. 1.50 +/- 0.09 mmol L-1; P < 0.05) and plasma glucose higher (5.2 +/- 0.1 vs. 4.9 +/- 0.1 mmol L-1; P < 0.05) in the group with higher insulin levels.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a relationship between insulin and triglyceride, HDL cholesterol and glucose but not blood pressure, cholesterol or low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in a healthy population at high risk of ischaemic heart disease.
Beatty
O L
OL
Sir George E. Clark Metabolic Unit, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Atkinson
A B
AB
Browne
J
J
Clarke
K
K
Sheridan
B
B
Bell
P
P
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005194:Family Practice; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009660:Northern Ireland; D012307:Risk Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids