Relationship between fasting insulin and cardiovascular risk factors is already present in young men: the Verona Young Men Atherosclerosis Risk Factors Study

Abstract

The associations between fasting plasma insulin concentration and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases were examined in 979 18-year-old men participating in the Verona Young Men Atherosclerosis Risk Factors Study, a cross-sectional population-based study. Body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), plasma triglycerides and uric acid concentrations, and blood pressure values significantly increased, and the high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-total cholesterol ratio decreased, across quartiles of fasting insulin. Total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations did not change significantly with the increase in fasting insulin levels. After adjustment for BMI, WHR, smoking, alcohol intake and physical activity, only plasma triglycerides significantly increased across insulin quartiles (F ¼ 7 : 1; P < 0 : 001). However, systolic blood pressure and uric acid were close to statistical significance (P ¼ 0 : 06-0 . 07). Multiple linear regression analysis confirmed that plasma insulin was independently correlated with plasma triglycerides and, to a lesser extent, with blood pressure and uric acid concentration. This analysis pointed out that BMI was a stronger independent predictor of all cardiovascular disease risk factors than fasting insulin. When subjects were categorized according to the number of metabolic and haemodynamic disorders occurring within the same individual, subjects with multiple disorders (i.e. three or four) had higher plasma insulin levels than those with none or few disorders, even after adjusting for BMI, WHR and behavioural variables (F ¼ 4 : 0; P < 0 : 01). These results indicate that hyperinsulinaemia is already associated with a cluster of cardiovascular disease risk factors in young adulthood, the strongest independent association being with plasma triglycerides.

Triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol are associated with insulinemia in adolescents

“…With the exception of triglycerides and HDL in 18-19-year-old male adolescents, associations among insulin, lipids, and lipoproteins disappeared. These results are similar to those reported by Bonora et al, 15 except that those authors found no association with HDL. Other studies have found that insulin resistance is also related with LDL and VLDL, 16,17 but these associations may have been confounded because BMI, WC, and EE were not controlled.…”

“…There is controversy concerning this matter, as some researchers have found that triglycerides are positively associated with insulin, whereas others have also found associations with LDL, HDL, and VLDL. [15][16][17] Total cholesterol has not been associated with insulin. [15][16][17] Furthermore, the association between insulin, abdominal fat, blood lipids, and lipoproteins in adolescents is not as clear as it is in adults.…”

“…[15][16][17] Total cholesterol has not been associated with insulin. [15][16][17] Furthermore, the association between insulin, abdominal fat, blood lipids, and lipoproteins in adolescents is not as clear as it is in adults. 18,19 The aim of this study was to determine the relationship among lipids, lipoprotein profile, and fasting insulin concentration, as well as the relationships between lipids, lipoproteins, insulin, and abdominal obesity in adolescents, as evaluated by waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip-ratio (WHR).…”

Effects of a low-carbohydrate diet on weight loss and cardiovascular risk factor in overweight adolescents

“…The higher caloric intake among LC participants may ameliorate the metabolic response to caloric restriction seen in very-low-energy diets. Increased serum insulin is known to promote lipogenesis, and some of the known sequelae of low insulin states, such as lowered TG, 42 were observed in the LC group. Perhaps insulin production or insulin activity is affected by LC dieting.…”

Localization of atherosclerosis susceptibility loci to chromosomes 4 and 6 using the Ldlr knockout mouse model

“…Epidemiological studies have shown an association between hyperinsulinemia and coronary atherosclerosis (36,37), as well as clustering of cardiovascular disease risk factors (38)(39)(40). To test for an association between insulin levels and atherosclerosis susceptibility in our mouse model, we compared mean fasting insulin levels in a subset of Mbc-Ldlr0 mice grouped by genotype at the Chr 4 and Chr 6 QTLs.…”