Iron is an important factor in the process of oxidation stress and atherogenesis which is as a rule potentiated in subjects with the insulin resistance syndrome. Hypertension is one of the main components of this syndrome. Ferritin due to its relationship with impaired insulin sensitivity becomes a candidate for a new indicator of insulin resistance. The subject of the present study was to assess whether we shall find in young healthy offspring of hypertensive parents changes in the ferritin level, oxidizability of LDL and whether these are related to parameters of glucose tolerance, insulin secretion and sensitivity. Twelve young (27 +/- 3.6 years) non-obese, normotesive offspring of hypertensive parents were compared with a group of 14 controls. Glucose tolerance, insulin secretion and sensitivity were examined by means of a hyperglycaemic clamp and oGTT. As to the ferritin level, the offspring of hypertensive parents did not differ significantly from controls, differences were not fond in the oxidizability of LDL-C. The glucose tolerance was comparable in the two groups. Offspring of hypertensive parents had however a significantly higher insulin and C peptide level when using the clamp and during the glucose tolerance test (p < 0.05), and a reduced insulin sensitivity (p < 0.05). The negative correlation between the index of insulin sensitivity and ferritin suggests that ferritin could be associated with the syndrome of insulin resistance.

Keywords: Adult; Arteriosclerosis /etiology/; C-Peptide /blood/; Ferritins /blood/; Glucose Tolerance Test; Humans; Hypertension /genetics/; Insulin /blood/; Insulin Resistance; Lipoproteins, LDL /blood/; Male; Oxidative Stress; Risk Factors