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Updated: Jul 19, 2026
10:08
Measuring Ascending Aortic Stiffness In Vivo in Mice Using Ultrasound
Published on: December 2, 2014
Insulin resistance, arterial stiffness and wave reflection.
Hannele Yki-Järvinen1, Jukka Westerbacka
1Department of Medicine, Division of Diabetes, University of Helsinki, Helsinki , Finland.
Advances in Cardiology
|November 1, 2006
Summary
Insulin resistance is linked to arterial stiffness, potentially explaining its connection to cardiovascular disease. This study found insulin
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Endocrinology
- Vascular Physiology
Background:
- Insulin resistance is a known risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
- The precise mechanisms linking insulin resistance to cardiovascular disease remain unclear.
- Epidemiological studies suggest a relationship between insulin resistance and arterial stiffness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between insulin resistance and arterial stiffness.
- To determine if insulin's effect on arterial stiffness is altered in insulin-resistant individuals.
Main Methods:
- Utilized pulse wave analysis to measure the augmentation index.
- Compared the acute effects of insulin on the augmentation index in insulin-sensitive versus insulin-resistant subjects.
Main Results:
- In insulin-sensitive individuals, insulin acutely reduced the augmentation index.
- This effect of insulin was blunted in insulin-resistant subjects.
- The findings suggest that large arteries are involved in insulin resistance.
Conclusions:
- Insulin resistance is associated with impaired arterial response to insulin.
- This blunted response in large arteries may represent a mechanism linking insulin resistance to cardiovascular disease.
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