FASTING SERUM-INSULIN LEVELS IN HYPERTENS IVE SUBJECTS

Insulin resistance is associated to hypertension, obesity and diabetes and may be an independent cardiovascular risk factor. The exact asses sment of insulin resistance requires complex metabolic studies. Howeve r, there is a good correlation between this parameter and fasting seru m insulin levels. The aim of this work was to study fasting serum insu lin levels by radio immune analysis in 43 hypertensive patients aged 5 6 +/- 5.5 years old (27 male, 27 obese and 8 diabetics) and 20 normote nsive controls aged 50 +/- 4.8 years old (13 male). Insulin levels wer e 3.8 UI/L in controls, 12.1 UI/L in normal weight, 15.5 UI/L in obese and 18.3 UI/L in diabetic hypertensives (ANOVA P < 0.001). These leve ls were above two standard deviations of control values in 50% of norm al weigth, 66% of obese and 62% of diabetic hypertensives. It is concl uded that normal weight, obese and diabetic hypertensive subjects have high fasting insulin levels.