Abstract
In order to determine whether essential hypertension (EHT) in our country is associated with insulin resistance, we measured insulin sensitivity (glucose clearance) using the Steady State Plasma Glucose (SSPG) method in 9 hypertensives (HT), 10 borderline hypertensives (BLHT) and 7 non-obsese controls (age-, sex-, weight-matched) with normal OGTT. Among HT and BLHT, glucose clearance (GC) was significantly impaired (42.1±4.1 ml/kg/10 min, 54.6±4.2 ml/kg/10 min vs 75.1±6.1 ml/kg/10 min of controls). GC was inversely related to systolic (r=-794, p<0.01), diastolic (r=-0.574, p<0.01) and mean arterial pressure (r=-0.725, p<0.01) However, Basal IRI of 75 gOGTT was related to diastolic (r=0.453, p<0.05) and mean arterial pressure (r=0.429, p<0.05).ΣIRI was also related to diastolic (r=0.423, p<0.05) and mean arterial pressure (r=0.456, p<0.05). Multiple regression analysis indicated that only GC was significantly related to systolic, diastolic or mean arterial pressure. During insulin sensitivity testing, epinephrine and FENa were unchanged. Norepinephrine was significantly depressed. These results indicate that insulin resistance, rather than hyperinsulinemia, is closely associated to EHT. An effort to improve insulin sensitivity in EHT is thus clinically warranted to prevent possible progression to diabetes.
