Insulin resistance is affected by sodium intake in nonmodulating subset of essential hypertension

Insulin resistance (IR) is one of the possible causes of essential hypertension (EH). Relationship between IR and pathophysiologic mechanisms are poorly understood, although an association between salt sensitive EH and IR has been reported. The purpose of this study was to determine if IR measured using homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) was a) different in subsets of EH determined according to the abnormalities in the renin-angiotensin system: Low renin, Non-modulators (NM), and Modulators. The latter two are normal/high renin group. b) Modified by the level of sodium (Na) intake in the different subsets. Fasting insulin and glucose were determined in subsets of EH and normotensives (NT) and HOMA was calculated as fasting glucose (mmol)* fasting insulin (μmol)/22.5, and was log transformed for analysis. ANOVA, paired t and non-parametric tests were used to compare subsets. EH (N=265) as a whole had significantly higher fasting insulin (p