New aspects of the insulin resistance syndrome: impact on haematological parameters

Abstract

The clinical association of insulin resistance (IR), hypertension, obesity, dyslipidaemia (increased VLDL and decreased HDL-cholesterol concentration in plasma), higher plasma PAI ±1 concentrations and decreased arterial distensibility, is widely known as the insulin resistance syndrome [1±3]. A strong association between the occurrence of insulin resistance syndrome and cardiovascular diseases (mainly coronary heart diseases) has been also demonstrated [1±2]. Nevertheless, hyperinsulinaemia is also in itself an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases Abstract Aim/hypothesis. Previous studies have shown that insulin has an important in vitro role in the regulation of human erythropoiesis. We investigated whether in vivo hyperinsulinaemia/insulin resistance affects haematological parameters. Methods. A total of 608 subjects between 22 and 99 years of age were enrolled in the Chianti study, an epidemiological study of factors affecting mobility in old age. The degree of insulin resistance was assessed using the homeostasis model. Results. We found a correlation between insulin resistance and red blood cell count, (r = 0.14 p < 0.001), plasma haemoglobin (r = 0.16 p < 0.001), haematocrit (r = 0.15 p < 0.001) and plasma iron (r = 0.1 p < 0.05) concentrations. Red blood cell count was also associated with the other biological markers of insulin resistance syndrome. Subjects with higher insulin resistance (4 quartile) had higher red blood cell count, plasma triglycerides and low density lipoproteins (LDL) cholesterol concentrations and lower high density lipoproteins (HDL) cholesterol concentrations then subjects at the lowest quartiles of insulin resistance. Insulin resistance and BMI were significant and independent predictors of red blood cell count even when the analysis was adjusted for age, sex, waist-to-hip ratio, plasma iron and drug intake. Conclusion/hypothesis. Our findings provide in vivo evidence of a relation between hyperinsulinaemia/insulin resistance, the main variables of insulin resistance syndrome and erythropoiesis. Increased red blood cell count could be considered as a new aspect of the insulin resistance syndrome that could contribute to the increased risk of developing cardiovascular problems. [Diabetologia (2001

Hemoglobin is Associated with Serum High Molecular Weight Adiponectin in Japanese Community-Dwelling Persons

“…Increased hemoglobin values often accompany insulin resistance and compensatory hyperinsulinemia in humans [10][11][12] . Conversely, anemia has also been suggested to be responsible for insulin resistance 13) .…”

Hematocrit and the Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes in the Pima Indians

“…Hematocrit has been positively correlated with hyperinsulinemia and conditions associated with insulin resistance such as high blood pressure, elevated serum triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, and central obesity and could therefore be associated with insulin resistance (7,8). On the other hand, hematocrit is also a major determinant of blood viscosity (9).…”

Effect on hematologic risk factors for coronary heart disease of a cholesterol reducing diet

“…WBCs, hematocrit and hemoglobin have all been demonstrated to be related to insulin resistance and compensatory hyperinsulinemia in healthy subjects (Facchini et al, 1992(Facchini et al, , 1998Barbieri et al, 2001). Furthermore, insulin has been shown to increase the neutrophil count (Rassias et al, 2002).…”

“…Furthermore, insulin has been shown to increase the neutrophil count (Rassias et al, 2002). High hematocrit and plasma hemoglobin have been proposed as part of the insulin resistance syndrome with its strong links to CHD (Barbieri et al, 2001).…”