OBJECTIVESTo investigate if hyperinsulinemia or insulin resistance could predict the elevation of blood pressure in non-diabetic adults.

METHODSOne hundred and seventy non-diabetic adults (NGT 107, IGT 63) were included based on the screen by OGTT in 1986. Height, weight, blood pressure were measured. Plasma glucose and insulin concentration at 0.60 and 120 min during OGTT were determined at baseline. All the subjects were followed for six years with blood pressure and plasma glucose examined at the end of the study. Subjects worsening to diabetes were excluded. Insulin area under-curve (INSAUC) and insulin sensitivity index [IAI = (1/FINS x FPG)] were calculated. Stepwise regression analysis was performed to evaluate the effects of INSAUC and insulin sensitivity to the elevation of blood pressure.

RESULTSBoth SBP and DBP levels at the end of the study were increased with increased INSAUC baseline. The SBP were (119.5 +/- 2.3), (122.1 +/- 2.5), (129.4 +/- 2.4) and (128.3 +/- 2.6) mmHg, and the DBP were (78.6 +/- 1.6), (79.7 +/- 1.7), (85.2 +/- 1.4) and (84.0 +/- 1.0) mmHg from the lowest to the highest quartiles of INSAUC respectively. Pearson correlation analysis showed Age, SBP, DBP, BMI, FINS, INS1h, INSAUC at baseline were positively correlated to blood pressure levels at the end of the study. After the adjustment of Age, sex, BMI, smoking, PG2 h and blood pressure at baseline, the INSAUC was significantly correlated to blood pressure six years later, while the insulin sensitivity index was not.

CONCLUSIONThe compensated hyperinsulinemia based on selective insulin resistance rather than insulin resistance to glucose per se could predict the elevation of blood pressure in nondiabetic adults.