3 DETERMINANTS OF ENDOTHELIAL DYSFUNCTION DIFFER BETWEEN CAUCASIANS AND AFRICAN AMERICANS

• Published in: Journal of investigative medicine 2005-03, Vol.53 (2), p.S387-S387
• Main Authors: Lteif, A. A., Mather, K. J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1081-5589; 1708-8267
• DOI: 10.2310/6650.2005.00205.2

BackgroundInsulin resistance is strongly associated with obesity and other components of the metabolic syndrome. The relative importance of these components in the determination of endothelial function is unknown. Furthermore, there is conflicting evidence whether there are ethnic differences in the relative importance of these components in regard to other cardiovascular outcomes. We evaluated the relative contributions of insulin resistance, obesity, and the other components of the metabolic syndrome to impaired endothelial function.Methods and ResultsWe evaluated studies in 52 Caucasian and 76 African American subjects. African American subjects exhibited reduced endothelium-dependent vasodilation compared to Caucasian subjects (p = 0.03), and both groups demonstrated significantly worse endothelial function when the metabolic syndrome was present (p = 0.0004). In both groups, impaired endothelial function was associated with the presence of 3 or more metabolic syndrome components. By multivariable analysis waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, and triglyceride levels were associated with impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation (p