Insulin Dependent Diabetes Trust Database.

  Results of a study of Mexican-Americans and non-Hispanic whites in Texas suggest a strong link between insulin levels and the development of hypertension, researchers report.

Of 1,039 initially nondiabetic, nonhypertensive subjects enrolled in the San Antonio Heart Study and followed for over seven years, 93 developed hypertension. The hypertensives tended to have increased fasting insulin and insulin secretion levels, along with higher body mass index and triglycerides compared with the others, Dr. Steven M. Haffner, of the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, writes.

Fasting insulin levels were also higher whether the hypertensive subjects were lean or obese, he notes, though other studies have noted a more marked effect of insulin on blood pressure in lean individuals.

"Because the effect of insulin on the incidence of hypertension is modest, widespread use of an insulin radioimmunoassay to assess future risk of hypertension is not indicated at this time," Dr. Haffner says. "However, the effect of insulin on the development of hypertension is stronger in lean subjects, so screening of fasting insulin concentrations in persons with a strong family history of hypertension may be justified."

Arch Intern Med 1996;156:1994-2000.

October 17, 1996 16:18 +0100

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