Objective-Osteocalcin has been reported to influence insulin secretion in experimental animals. We investigated whether serum osteocalcin was associated with measures of insulin resistance, circulating adipokine levels, and the presence of metabolic syndrome (MetSyn). Methods and Results-Serum osteocalcin was measured by solid-phase sandwich immunoassay in 1284 blacks (64Ϯ9 years; 71% women) and 1209 non-Hispanic whites (59Ϯ10 years; 57% women) belonging to hypertensive sibships. MetSyn was defined per Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. The prevalence of MetSyn was 50% in blacks and 49% in non-Hispanic whites. In each ethnic group, after adjustment for age and gender, osteocalcin levels were inversely correlated with body mass index, fasting glucose and insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, triglycerides, and leptin, and positively correlated with adiponectin (PϽ0.001 for each variable). In multivariable regression analyses that adjusted for age, gender, smoking, serum creatinine, and statin and estrogen use, osteocalcin levels in the highest quartile (compared with the lowest quartile) were associated with a lower odds ratio (OR) of having MetSyn: OR (95% CI) in blacks, 0.33 (0.23 to 0.46); OR in non-Hispanic whites, 0.43 (0.31 to 0.63). Conclusion-Serum osteocalcin is associated with measures of insulin resistance, adipokine levels, and the presence of MetSyn, suggesting a novel cross-talk between bone and adipose tissue.

Our findings indicate a novel cross-sectional association between plasma copeptin and measures of insulin resistance and MetSyn.

Summary. Background: African Americans with hypertension have higher cardiovascular morbidity and mortality than hypertensives from other ethnic groups. Plasma D-dimer, a fragment generated from fibrin during lysis of mature clot in vivo, is a predictor of adverse cardiovascular events. Objective: We investigated whether plasma levels of D-dimer differ between African American (AA) and non-Hispanic white (NHW) adults with hypertension. Methods: Participants included 933 AA (65 ± 9 years, 72% women) and 821 NHW (61 ± 9 years, 56% women) from the community. D-dimer was measured using an immunoturbidimetric assay. Multivariable regression analyses, stratified by gender, were performed to assess whether AA ethnicity was associated with D-dimer levels after adjustment for age, body mass index (BMI), total and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, diabetes, history of smoking, medication (statin and aspirin) use, lifestyle variables (physical activity, alcohol intake, and education), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and a marker of inflammation, C-reactive protein (CRP). Results: D-dimer levels were higher in AA men and women than in their NHW counterparts (mean ± SD; men 256 ± 199 vs. 190 ± 183 ng mL )1 , P < 0.001; women, 290 ± 233 vs. 225 ± 195 ng mL )1 , P < 0.001). In both sexes, after adjustment for age, conventional risk factors, medication use, and lifestyle variables, AA ethnicity remained associated with higher D-dimer levels (P = 0.002 in men, P = 0.006 in women). These associations remained significant after additional adjustment for eGFR and plasma CRP (P = 0.003 in men, P < 0.0001 in women). Conclusions: Among adults with hypertension, AA ethnicity was independently associated with higher plasma levels of D-dimer.

Background Midregional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP) is a newly described stable fragment of the N-terminal part of pro-atrial natriuretic peptide. We tested the hypothesis that in adults with essential hypertension, plasma levels of MR-proANP would be associated with systolic blood pressure (SBP), pulse pressure, and hypertension severity. Method Participants included 1034 African Americans (65±9 y, 72% women) and 880 non-Hispanic whites (61±9 y, 55% women) belonging to sibships ascertained on the basis of hypertension. MR-proANP was measured by an immunoluminometric assay. Hypertension severity was based on number of hypertension medication classes used and multiples of SBP and diastolic BP (DBP) deviations from 120/70 mm Hg. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to assess whether plasma levels of MR-proANP were associated with SBP, pulse pressure, and hypertension severity independent of potential confounding variables. Results In African Americans, after adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, estimated glomerular filtration rate, smoking history, diabetes, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, medication (beta-blocker, statin, and aspirin) use, and previous history of myocardial infarction or stroke, higher MR-proANP levels were significantly associated with greater SBP (P <0.0001), pulse pressure (P <0.0001), and hypertension severity (P = 0.0013). The associations were replicated in non-Hispanic whites; after adjustment for the above variables, higher MR-proANP levels were significantly associated with greater SBP (P = 0.013), pulse pressure (P = 0.0006), and hypertension severity (P = 0.028). Conclusion Plasma MR-proANP may be a marker of arterial stiffness and severity of hypertension in adults with hypertension.