Abstract

HOFFMANN, I et al. Hiperinsulinemia y sensibilidad a la Sal. AVFT [online]. 2002, vol.21, n.1, pp.39-46. ISSN 0798-0264.

Coronary artery disease is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Early detection and correction of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors is mandatory for disease prevention. A program was develop for the early diagnosis and treatment of factors known to increment the risk of developing cardiovascular and metabolic disease in apparently healthy subjects. Ion this report, we present data for the first 153 individuals evaluated. We investigated the association of salt sensitivity with other cardiovascular risk factors, and in addition, determined which factors predicted salt sensitivity. The comparison of salt sensitive subjects (SS) with salt resistant subjects (SR) demonstrated that SS are older, heavier, have higher blood pressure and triglyceride levels and lower HDL-cholesterol, as well as a lesser level of physical activity. The prevalence and severity of salt sensitivity in hyperinsulinaemic and in glucose intolerant individuals was also investigated. There was no difference in the distribution of salt sensitivity among groups (hyper and normo insulinaemic), glucose tolerant (fasting glucose < 110 mg/dl; 2 hours post oral load < 140 mg/dl) and glucose intolerant and/or diabetic subjects. Reducing salt intake from 316 ± 13 to 26 ± 3 mmol/day, produced similar decreases in blood pressure in hyper- and normoinsulinaemic and in glucose tolerant and glucose intolerant and/or diabetic subjects. In addition, no correlation was found between the magnitude of blood pressure increase induced by high salt and insulin or glucose levels, either fasting, 2 hours post glucose load or calculated as the area under the curve following a 75 gr. glucose load. In conclusion, our results suggest that insulin and glucose levels do not determine the increase in vascular reactivity induced by increases in salt intake.

Keywords : Hyperinsulinaemia; Salt sensitivity; Cardiovascular risk factors.