The presence of microalbuminuria has become an important tool for therapeutic intervention. In this study we investigated whether the dysmetabolic syndrome of obesity was associated with or could occur in the absence of microalbuminuria. The study was conducted in 71 clinically healthy, glucose tolerant Hispanics (age: 43 ؎ 1.4 years, body mass index (BMI): 28.7 ؎ 0.6 kg/m 2 , systolic blood pressure (SBP): 117 ؎ 2 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure (DBP): 77 ؎ 1.3 mm Hg, urinary albumin excretion: 10.2 ؎ 0.6 mg/24 h). Subjects were classified as lean (BMI Ͻ25), overweight (BMI Ͼ25 Ͻ30) and obsese (BMI Ͼ30 kg/m 2 ). Greater BMI was associated with higher body weight, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), BP, fasting insulin, triglyceride, post glucose load insulin and glucose, and lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. However, no significant differences in the urinary albumin excretion (mg/24 h) were found between lean (9.0 ؎ 0.9; median: 9.1), overweight (11.3 ؎ 1.2; median: 10.5) and obese (11.1 ؎ 1.2; median: 9.7) subjects. In addition, microalbuminuria

Mutations in the NAD(P)H oxidase gene may be associated with abnormal superoxide generation, nitric oxide (NO) availability and cardiovascular diseases. We investigated the prevalence of the NAD(P)H oxidase p22phox gene C242T polymorphism, and its possible association with blood pressure, NO production, salt sensitivity and cardiovascular risk factors in Hispanics. Genotype frequencies were as follows: CC, 52.9%; CT, 40.3%; and TT, 6.8%. There were no significant differences in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, age, weight, fasting and post-load glucose levels, LDL and HDL cholesterol, triglyceride and urinary albumin levels in subjects with CC, CT or the TT genotypes. Presence of the T allele was associated with increased salt sensitivity in women, but not in men.NO metabolite excretion was markedly decreased both in women and men with the TT genotype (CC: 868779 lmol/day; CT: 839775 lmol/day; TT: 5347 78 lmol/day; Po0.05). In conclusion, the prevalence of the NAD(P)H oxidase p22phox gene C242T polymorphism in Venezuelans was comparable to that of Caucasians, but different from that of Chinese and Japanese. Although the T allele was not associated with cardiovascular risk factors, hyperinsulinaemia or hypertension, in women, it appeared to be a genetic susceptibility factor for salt sensitivity. Both in women and men, the p22phox gene may play a role in the genetic control of NO levels.

We investigated the role of insulin and glucose in the pathophysiology of hypertension associated with obesity. The comparative effects of an oral glucose load and of an L-arginine infusion on plasma glucose, plasma insulin and blood pressures (BP) were assessed in lean normotensive and in obese hypertensive males. Oral glucose (75 g in 1-2 min) induced a small but significant lowering of BP in lean normotensives, but failed to modify BP in obese hypertensives. L-arginine infusion (30 min, 500 mg/kg total dose) reduced BP; significantly greater reductions in sytolic and diastolic BP were

In this study we evaluated the role of insulin in hypertension and on salt sensitivity. The study was conducted in 47 consecutive patients attending the Center for the Detection and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Risk factors. The relationships between fasting and post-glucose load insulin levels and the blood pressure (BP) responses to changes in salt intake, were investigated. No correlation was observed between fasting or 2-h post-load insulin levels and mean BP (MBP), systolic BP (SBP) or diastolic BP (DBP). The plasma concentrations of insulin were not significantly related to body mass index (BMI) (r 2 ‫؍‬ 0.05; P ‫؍‬ 0.135). Neither fasting nor 2-h post-load insulin predicted the BP response to changes in salt intake. A reduction in salt intake from 316 ؎ 13 to 26 PM 3 mmoles/day, produced similar BP lowering in subjects with fasting insulin Ͼ15 U/ml and in subjects with normal fasting insulin