posted 11/06/02
Hypertension in adolescence may be an early manifestation of
insulin resistance syndrome.
Czech researchers report. In addition, they found
that folate-homocysteine disturbances may play a role in its development.
Dr. Viktor Kozich from Charles University,
Prague, and colleagues measured the levels of insulin, lipids, homocysteine and
folate in 164 adolescents with essential hypertension, median 19 years of age,
and in 173 normotensive controls.
Compared with controls, hypertensive subjects had
higher body mass index and levels of insulin and lower HDL cholesterol.
They also had lower levels of folate and higher
levels of homocysteine, the researchers found. Homocysteine levels were
positively correlated with systolic blood pressure, while folate levels were
inversely correlated with systolic blood pressure, they note.
Regression analysis revealed that risk for
hypertension among these adolescents was significantly associated with fasting
homocysteine, vitamin B12 and LDL cholesterol, according to the report in the
October issue of the American Journal of Hypertension.
Dr. Kozich and colleagues conclude that "our
study showed that the early stages of essential hypertension are associated with
signs of insulin resistance syndrome, and with decreased plasma folate and
increased total homocysteine concentrations."
They add that "novel treatment approaches may include modulation of insulin resistance through exercise or angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, and the correction of folate deficiency using dietary measures or low-dose oral folic acid treatment."
Source: Diabetes In Control Dot Com: Am J Hypertens 2002;15:857-864.
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