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Insulin, insulin propeptides and intima‐media thickness in the carotid artery in 58‐year‐old clinically healthy men. The Atherosclerosis and Insulin Resistance study (AIR)
Author(s) -
Bokemark L.,
Wikstrand J.,
Wedel H.,
Fagerberg B.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
diabetic medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.474
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1464-5491
pISSN - 0742-3071
DOI - 10.1046/j.1464-5491.2002.00664.x
Subject(s) - proinsulin , medicine , insulin , endocrinology , insulin resistance , intima media thickness , c peptide , apolipoprotein b , body mass index , common carotid artery , carotid arteries , cholesterol
Aims To examine the relationship between specific (intact) insulin, insulin propeptides and subclinical atherosclerosis. Methods A cross‐sectional study based on a stratified sampling of randomly selected, clinically healthy 58‐year‐old men ( n = 391). Ultrasound examinations of the carotid arteries were performed with measurement of intima‐media thickness (IMT) in the common carotid artery and in the carotid artery bulb. Fasting, cross‐reacting plasma insulin (RIA), specific (intact) insulin, proinsulin, 32,33 split proinsulin and C‐peptide were measured. Results Plasma concentrations of cross‐reacting plasma insulin, specific insulin, proinsulin, 32,33 split proinsulin and C‐peptide were univariately associated with common carotid artery IMT. Established risk factors such as blood pressure, smoking, apoB, triglycerides, body mass index (BMI), and waist–hip ratio were also related to IMT. After adjustment for smoking, apoB, blood pressure and triglycerides, cross‐reacting plasma insulin, proinsulin and C‐peptide but not specific insulin and split 32,33 proinsulin remained associated with carotid artery IMT. No associations remained after adjustment for BMI. Conclusions Fasting plasma proinsulin, C‐peptide, and insulin by cross‐reacting RIA was associated with common carotid artery IMT independent of several conventional risk factors for atherosclerosis. The multicollinearity between the insulin peptides and propeptides makes it difficult to clarify the exact role of each peptide.