A close association between insulin resistance and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in subjects with essential hypertension

To examine the serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and i ts relation with insulin resistance and the other risk factors in essential hypertension, serum DHEAS and insulin sensitivity were assessed in 35 male hypertensive and 17 male healthy control subjects aged 50-59 years. Fastin g plasma insulin and the area under curve of plasma insulin were determined during a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. Insulin sensitivity was measure d by the steady state plasma glucose method. Fasting plasma insulin and the area under curve of plasma insulin were significantly higher in the hypete nsive group than in control group. Steady state plasma glucose was signific antly higher in hypertensive subjects indicating insulin resistance compare d with control subjects. On the other hand, fasting serum DHEAS levels were significantly lower in the hypertensive group than in the control group. F asting serum DHEAS levels were inversely correlated with steady state plasm a glucose significantly (p=0.0008), indicating a close association between DHEAS levels and insulin resistance. Fasting serum DHEAS was inversely corr elated with systolic blood pressure and fasting plasma insulin. In multiple regression analysis of hypertensive subjects, steady state plasma glucose was the strongest determinant of the fasting serum level of DHEAS, followed by systolic blood pressure and fasting plasma insulin. These 3 factors acc ounted for 51.6% of the variation in DHEAS. In nonobese and nondiabetic ess ential hypertension, serum DHEAS was lower and insulin resistance was the m ost significant independent determinant of reduced serum DHEAS, followed by systolic blood pressure and fasting plasma insulin.