Insulin resistance is strongly associated with hypertension,
especially in African Americans.
According to recent research from the United States, "Hypertension and diabetes mellitus are the leading contributors to end-stage renal disease. African Americans suffer higher rates of renal failure as well as other vascular morbidities associated with hypertension and diabetes.
"Insulin resistance is a component of diabetes
and also precedes the clinical expression of type 2 diabetes," said Bonita
Falkner at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. "The relationship of
blood pressure with insulin resistance, or impaired insulin action, occurs in
African Americans and can be detected at young ages prior to the clinical
expression of hypertension or diabetes. Through its relationship with
hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance is associated
with endothelial dysfunction. The interface of insulin resistance with
endothelial dysfunction may begin to explain the role of insulin resistance in
vascular and renal pathology. The injury process, subsequent to both
hypertension and diabetes, appears to be mediated by alterations tissue
regulatory factors, and include vasoactive peptides such as angiotensin II,
endothelin, and growth factors."
The researcher concluded, "Understanding the
determinants that up-regulate the aberrant pathways and the early phases of
these processes will be necessary to formulate strategies to effectively achieve
renal protection and reduce the rates of renal failure in African Americans."
Source:
Diabetes In Control Dot Com: Study published in Kidney International (Insulin
resistance in African Americans. Kidney Int, 2003;63(Suppl. 83):27-30).
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