Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 7, 2025

Dried Blood Spot Collection of Health Biomarkers to Maximize Participation in Population Studies
07:20

Dried Blood Spot Collection of Health Biomarkers to Maximize Participation in Population Studies

Published on: January 28, 2014

36.6K

Cord Blood Insulin Concentration and Hypertension Among Children and Adolescents Enrolled in a US Racially Diverse

Guoying Wang1, Jessie P Buckley2, Tami R Bartell3

  • 1Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Center on the Early Life Origins of Disease (G.W., X.H., X.W.), Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD.

Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979)
|March 13, 2023
PubMed

Insights

High cord blood insulin levels in newborns are linked to increased blood pressure and hypertension risk in children and adolescents. This suggests insulin resistance may play a role in hypertension

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Endocrinology
  • Cardiovascular Health

Background:

  • Insulin resistance is strongly associated with hypertension, but its causal role remains debated.
  • This study explores the link between early-life insulin levels and later blood pressure.
  • Investigating the origins of hypertension in childhood and adolescence is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the association between cord blood insulin concentration and blood pressure (BP) in childhood and adolescence.
  • To examine the relationship between cord blood insulin levels and the risk of developing hypertension.
  • To explore potential modifying effects of preterm birth and childhood weight on this association.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 951 children was followed from birth.
  • Cord blood insulin concentration was measured using immunoassay.
  • Hypertension was defined using the 2017 American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines.

Main Results:

  • Higher cord blood insulin concentration was positively associated with both systolic and diastolic BP.
  • Elevated cord blood insulin levels increased the risk of hypertension in childhood and adolescence.
  • The association was stronger in preterm infants and was amplified by childhood overweight or obesity.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated insulin concentration at birth is a significant factor in the early development of hypertension.
  • These findings support the hypothesis that insulin resistance contributes to the etiology of hypertension.
  • Early life insulin levels may serve as a marker for future hypertension risk.
Abstract

Keywords:
adolescentblood pressurecardiovascular diseaseshypertensioninsulin

More Related Videos

Collecting Hair Samples for Hair Cortisol Analysis in African Americans06:01

Collecting Hair Samples for Hair Cortisol Analysis in African Americans

Published on: June 10, 2018

18.3K
Glycemic Impact on Knee Osteoarthritis Symptoms on Physical, Radiographic, and Inflammatory Markers among Individuals Aged 50 and Over with Diabetes07:22

Glycemic Impact on Knee Osteoarthritis Symptoms on Physical, Radiographic, and Inflammatory Markers among Individuals Aged 50 and Over with Diabetes

Published on: March 7, 2025

337

Related Concept Videos

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational

Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
2.6K
Factors affecting Blood pressure01:28

Factors affecting Blood pressure

Several physiological and lifestyle factors influence blood pressure (BP). Understanding these factors is crucial as they are significant in patient education and blood pressure management.
Physiological Factors:
3.4K
Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:30

Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

Hypertension is asymptomatic and also referred to as the "silent killer" until it progresses to a severe stage or causes target organ disease. Patients may experience symptoms stemming from the strain on blood vessels and tissues in various organs or the heart's increased workload.Physical exams might show no abnormalities other than high blood pressure. Signs of vascular damage, when present, correspond to the organs supplied by the affected vessels, leading to target organ damage. For...
36
Bias in Epidemiological Studies01:29

Bias in Epidemiological Studies

Biases can arise at various stages of research, from study design and data collection to analysis and interpretation. Recognizing and addressing these biases is essential to ensure the validity and reliability of epidemiological findings.Broadly speaking, biases in epidemiology fall into three main categories: selection bias, information bias, and confounding. A more detailed description of possible biases is:  
436
Hormonal Regulation of Blood Pressure01:17

Hormonal Regulation of Blood Pressure

Endocrinal or hormonal intervention in the cardiovascular system is predominantly exerted by the catecholamines - epinephrine and norepinephrine, as well as a slew of hormones that interact with renal function to modulate blood volume.
Epinephrine and Norepinephrine
The adrenal medulla releases epinephrine and norepinephrine, catecholamines that enhance and extend the sympathetic or "fight or flight" physiological response. These hormones escalate heart rate and the force of contraction...
2.8K
Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure01:18

Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure

Hypertension, the most common cardiovascular disease, is diagnosed through repeated measurements of elevated blood pressure. Its risks, including damage to the kidney, heart, and brain, are directly proportional to blood pressure levels. Starting from 115/75 mm Hg, the risk of cardiovascular disease doubles with each increment of 20/10 mm Hg. The diagnosis relies on blood pressure measurements, not on patient symptoms, as hypertension is often asymptomatic until end-organ damage is imminent or...
2.2K