title: Familial obesity, sympathetic activation and blood pressure level.
abstract: This study was conducted to evaluate the relative contributions of existing obesity and a family history of obesity (FHOB) to blood pressure (BP) level, sympathetic activity, plasma leptin and insulin levels in young men without a family history of hypertension. The study was of "four-corner" design according to body mass index (BMI). A positive FHOB (FHOB+) was defined as both parents being obese (BMI >26.0 kg/m2), and a negative FHOB (FHOB-) was defined as both parents being lean (BMI <22.0 kg/ m2). The cutoff limits of BP for the subjects and their parents enrolled in present study was defined as a supine reading of <140/90 mmHg. In 12 lean young subjects with FHOB-, 9 obese young subjects with FHOB-, 8 lean young subjects with FHOB+ and 16 obese young subjects with FHOB+, BMI, BP, plasma norepinephrine (NE), insulin and leptin were measured. All subjects were men and non-diabetic. Obese subjects, irrespective of FHOB, had higher levels of BMI, BP, plasma NE, leptin and insulin compared to lean subjects. In subjects with FHOB+, regardless of their current degree of adiposity, there was a higher level of BP and plasma NE than in subjects with FHOB-. In lean subjects, FHOB+ was associated with a higher plasma NE level and BP, but similar levels of plasma leptin and insulin were found when compared with FHOB- subjects. These results suggest that existing obesity and a positive family history of obesity appear to have an association with sympathetic overactivity and BP elevation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita City, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Masuo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mikami
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogihara
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Tuck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005192:Family Health; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010290:Parents; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D009638:Norepinephrine