Faculty Collaboration Database

Effect of gender and adiposity on in vivo vascular function in young African Americans. J Am Soc Hypertens 2017 May;11(5):246-257

Date

04/16/2017

Pubmed ID

28411075

DOI

10.1016/j.jash.2017.03.002

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85017463310 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   7 Citations

Abstract

The relationship between obesity and high blood pressure is not as strong among African Americans (AA) as compared to Caucasians. We designed the current study to determine the effect of adiposity on vascular endothelial function (a harbinger of hypertension) among young healthy AA without additional cardiovascular disease risk factors. A total of 108 AA subjects (46 women) between the ages of 18 and 45 years were recruited. All the subjects were normotensive, nonsmokers, and normoglycemic. Anthropometric and cardiovascular disease risk factor measurements (lipid, insulin resistance, and inflammatory markers) were obtained. Vascular endothelial function was measured by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Adiposity distribution was measured by using magnetic resonance imaging scan. There were no gender differences in age and levels of blood pressure, lipids, insulin resistance, and inflammatory markers. Women had higher total body fat percentage and higher peripheral adiposity compared to men. We observed that total and central adiposity did not correlate significantly with brachial artery FMD in women (r = -0.12 and r = 0.23, respectively; P = NS). However, in men, waist circumference was positively associated with FMD (r = 0.3, P ≤ .05). Hyperemic flow was negatively correlated significantly with total and central adiposity in men (r = -0.34 and r = -0.48, respectively; P < .05), but not in women (r = -0.26 and r = 0.03, respectively; P = NS). Our study suggests that increased adiposity may pose greater risk to AA men compared to AA women by adversely affecting resistance vessel function (as measured by hyperemic flow). Larger studies are necessary to validate these findings.

Author List

Dass N, Kilakkathi S, Obi B, Moosreiner A, Krishnaswami S, Widlansky ME, Kidambi S

Authors

Srividya Kidambi MD Sr Medical Director, Chief, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Michael E. Widlansky MD Associate Director, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adiposity
Adult
Blood Flow Velocity
Blood Pressure
Body Mass Index
Brachial Artery
Endothelium, Vascular
Female
Humans
Hypertension
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Risk Factors
Sex Factors
United States
Vascular Resistance
Waist Circumference