INSULIN-RESISTANCE IN OFFSPRING OF HYPERTENSIVE SUBJECTS

Objective To assess whether apparently healthy subjects with a family history of systemic hypertension have a higher risk of presenting the insulin resistance syndrome. Subjects Three hundred and eighty-six sub jects aged 20-65 years, Setting A middle socio-economic class urban co mmunity from Mexico City. Method All subjects and, when necessary, the ir first-degree relatives, answered a questionnaire and underwent a ph ysical examination with measurement of height, weight and blood pressu re, Serum insulin, glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides were measure d during fasting and 2 h after an oral load of 75 g glucose. Results A family history of systemic hypertension was present for 167 (43%) of the subjects, of whom 123 (31%) were obese, Subjects with a family his tory of hypertension had higher systolic blood pressures than did thos e without such a history (120 +/- 15 versus 115 +/- 10 mmHg), In the l ogistic regression model, the body mass index and age showed statistic ally significant effects on the fasting glucose:insulin ratio and on s erum insulin levels after an oral load of glucose, When men and women were analysed separately, only in men were higher systolic and mean bl ood pressures and lower glucose:insulin ratios observed, In the logist ic regression analysis the body mass index was a significant predictor of the glucose:insulin ratio and serum insulin levels after an oral l oad of glucose, especially in men. Conclusion Apparently healthy male offspring of hypertensive parents have higher blood pressure levels an d lower insulin sensitivities than do offspring of normotensive parent s, Insulin resistance was related to obesity, but not to a family hist ory of hypertension, as had previously been reported by other research groups.