[A study on the mechanism of hyperinsulinemia in essential hypertension]

Blood glucose(BG), insulin(IS), C-peptide(CP), glucagon(GC) and their area under the curve(AUC), the CP:IS molar ratio and IS:GC molar ratio were measured and calculated in 31 hypertensives and 23 weight control normotensives. Compared with the normotensives, the patients showed higher fasting serum IS, CP and the IS:GC ratio, and exhibited increased BG, IS, CP and their AUC and the IS:GC ratio, and a lower CP:IS molar ratio after the oral glucose load. No significant difference was found in the fasting CP:IS molar ratio, BG, GC between normotensive and hypertensive subjects. The results indicate that there are impaired glucose tolerance, hyperinsulinemia and IS resistance in essential hypertensive subjects. The hyperinsulinemia may be caused by a beta-cell hypersecretory response to the defective peripheral action of the hormone and by a decreased hepatic insulin clearance. The study also suggests that IS resistance in essential hypertensive subjects usually involve other abnormalities of metabolism and associate with increased risk factors for coronary artery disease.