Description:
<jats:title>SUMMARY</jats:title><jats:p>
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<jats:list-item><jats:p>Differences in blood lipids, glucose, insulin, amylin, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, aldosterone, angiotensin II, metabolites of nitric oxide (nitrate, nitrite), asymmetric dimethyl arginine, endothelial leucocyte adhesion molecule‐1, vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1, C‐reactive protein, homocysteine and oxidative status (urate, vitamin A, vitamin E, b‐carotene and total anti‐oxidant capacity) were investigated in men (aged 18–25 years) with (+) or without (–) a family history (FH) of hypertension.</jats:p></jats:list-item>
<jats:list-item><jats:p>In the present study, FH+ was defined as having at least one parent or grandparent taking medication for hypertension. Blood (60 mL) was sampled (0800–1000 hours) from a cannulated forearm vein after an overnight fast and 24 h abstinence from caffeine‐containing products and alcohol.</jats:p></jats:list-item>
<jats:list-item><jats:p>Comparing FH+ with FH–, systolic blood pressure (124 ± 1 <jats:italic>vs </jats:italic>117 + 3 mmHg, respectively; <jats:italic>n</jats:italic> = 50 and 14, respectively; <jats:italic>P</jats:italic> < 0.05) and plasma cortisol (377 ± 23 <jats:italic>vs</jats:italic> 298 ± 24 nmol/L, respectively; <jats:italic>n</jats:italic> = 43 and 12, respectively; <jats:italic>P</jats:italic> < 0.05) were found to be significantly higher in the former group.</jats:p></jats:list-item>
<jats:list-item><jats:p>No significant difference was found between the two groups for body mass index, resting heart rate, diastolic and mean blood pressures or any of the biochemical measures studied.</jats:p></jats:list-item>
<jats:list-item><jats:p>A significant correlation was found between cortisol and ACTH (<jats:italic>r =</jats:italic> 0.73). No correlation was found between cortisol and any other parameter measured.</jats:p></jats:list-item>
<jats:list-item><jats:p>These data indicate that elevated cortisol levels are characteristic of young lean normotensive FH+ men. The future impact of this on their vascular health and hypertension remains to be determined.</jats:p></jats:list-item>
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