Insulin resistance in offspring of hypertensive parents.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if insulin resistance is present in normotensive adults at increased risk of developing hypertension.


METHODS
Normotensive subjects with at least one hypertensive parent were paired with offspring of normotensive parents (controls), being matched for age, sex, social class, and physical activity.


METHODS
Outpatient clinic.


METHODS
30 paired subjects (16 men and 14 women) with and without a family history of hypertension, aged 18-32, with a body mass index < 25 kg/m2, with blood pressure < 130/85 mm Hg, and not taking drugs.


METHODS
Euglycaemic glucose clamp (two hour infusion of insulin 1 mU/kg/min) and intravenous glucose tolerance test (injection of 100 ml 20% glucose).


METHODS
Insulin mediated glucose disposal and insulin secretion.


RESULTS
The offspring of hypertensive parents had slightly higher blood pressure than did the controls (mean 117 (SD 6) v 108 (5) mm Hg systolic, p = 0.013; 76 (7) v 67 (6) mm Hg diastolic, p = 0.017). Their insulin mediated glucose disposal was lower than that of controls (29.5 (6.5) v 40.1 (8.6) mumol/kg/min, p = 0.002), but, after adjustment for blood pressure, the difference was not significant (difference 6.9 (95% confidence interval -1.5 to 15.3), p = 0.10). Insulin secretion in the first hour after injection of glucose was slightly but not significantly higher in the offspring of hypertensive patients (9320 (5484) v 6723 (3751) pmol.min/l). The two groups had similar concentrations of plasma glucose (5.2 (0.3) v 5.1 (0.4) mmol/l), serum cholesterol (4.4 (0.8) v 4.6 (0.8) mmol/l), serum triglyceride (0.89 (0.52) v 0.68 (0.27) mmol/l), and serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol (2.81 (0.65) v 2.79 (0.61) mmol/l). The offspring of hypertensive parents, however, had lower serum concentrations of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (1.24 (0.31) v 1.56 (0.35) mmol/l, p = 0.002) and higher serum concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (0.7 (0.4) v 0.4 (0.4) mmol/l, p = 0.039).


CONCLUSIONS
Young normotensive subjects who are at increased risk of developing hypertension are insulin resistant.
Beatty
O L
OL
Sir George E Clark Metabolic Unit, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast.
Harper
R
R
Sheridan
B
B
Atkinson
A B
AB
Bell
P M
PM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D012306:Risk
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin