Hypertension and Hyperinsulinemia

An overwhelming number of studies have revealed that diet, obesity and vitamin and mineral deficiencies are related to primary hypertension. Changes in lifestyle and the uses of specific supplements have proven to be extremely effective in the treatment and reversal of mild primary hypertension and could be considered prior to the use of prescription drugs

Hypertension is strongly associated with the development of cardiovascular disease and is one of the major factors in the incidences of heart attacks in both the diabetic and non-diabetic population. It can also contribute to the progression of atherosclerosis. Numerous studies show a definite correlation between hypertension, diabetes, hyperglycemia, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.[i] [ii]

We are most interested in the links between diabetes and hypertension and how to prevent and or treat them accordingly.

Type I diabetes patients usually develop secondary hypertension while Type II patients are associated with primary hypertension. Secondary hypertension in Type I patients is usually the result of nephropathy often caused by chronic hyperglycemia. Type II diabetes patients can also develop secondary hypertension from nephropathy, but it is not as common.

The cause of primary hypertension in Type II patients as well as non-patients has been under investigation for some time without any real agreement on the subject.

Hypertension, like other conditions, has several factors involved in its pathology and just as one individual event probably did not cause it, one type of treatment is not likely to cure it. The greatest single factor in the development of primary hypertension, which had been suggested over 30 years ago, is the condition of hyperinsulinemia.[iii] [iv] [v]

Hyperinsulinemia can be caused by insulin resistance, which creates elevated glucose levels due to glucose intolerance. The pancreas tries to correct this by massively increasing insulin production, which leaves high levels of serum insulin that are not utilized. One of the many effects of this over production is the increased re-absorption of sodium by the kidneys.[vi] This causes increased extracellular fluid volume, which will demand greater cardiac output and raise blood pressure. There are also several other pathways in which sustained elevated levels of insulin can stimulate the sympathetic nervous system and increase peripheral vascular resistance and raise blood pressure.

Hyperinsulinemia can also be caused by the uses of injected insulin. The hyperbolized amount of injected insulin needed to eventually make its way to the vascular system can increase insulin resistance. In spite of its extremely limited benefit, large doses of insulin are sometimes used in Type II patients in an attempt to overcome insulin resistance and restore normoglycemia, however this may be just adding to a hyperinsulinemia problem.

Some studies clearly demonstrate the direct correlation between a decrease in insulin doses and a corresponding drop in blood pressure without deterioration in glucose control.[vii]

Hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance and glucose intolerance are the most prominent characteristics of Type II diabetes and Type II patients almost exclusively develop primary hypertension, which also shares identical symptoms.

We know that exercise; diet modification and weight loss decreases both elevated blood pressure and glucose tolerance. One of the many ways this type of non-pharmaceutical treatment may accomplish these improvements is through an increase in insulin sensitivity.

This action will cause a decrease in insulin resistance, which in turn will cause a reduction in insulin output. Correcting hyperinsulinemia, the primary root cause of the related conditions, would ultimately lead to improvements in both Type II diabetes and primary hypertension. There are trials that suggest that this process may be expedited with the uses of two trace minerals that enhance glucose uptake, chromium and vanadyl sulfate.

There are other conditions that can contribute to hypertension and treatments used to correct them.

Sodium in the form of common table salt increases blood pressure in those with hypertension with abnormal renal sodium handling characteristics. The removal of added salt in specific individuals can cause up to a 10-15% decrease in overall blood pressure.

Unsaturated fat to saturated fat intake ratio should be as high as conceivably possible. Monounsaturated fat is the preferred unsaturated fat for both its lower blood sugar impact and its ability to decrease blood pressure.

Caffeine has a number of undesirable side effects that may aggravate the hypertensive condition through increased calcium excretion.[viii] There appears to be a direct relationship between low serum levels of calcium and primary hypertension.[ix] [x] There is evidence that impaired calcium metabolism and elevated urinary calcium levels may affect blood pressure regulation in hypertensive patients.[xi] [xii] Calcium supplements in the amount of 2 grams a day in the form of calcium lactate may prove helpful in blood pressure reduction. Potassium also has a role in hypertension treatment, for it will cause a modest reduction in blood pressure.[xiii] [xiv] Its intake should be in a higher ratio to that of sodium to be effective.

Magnesium has one of the strongest correlations between low serum levels and insistences of hypertension.[xv] [xvi] [xvii] The uses of a one-gram a day dietary supplement of magnesium may induce a significant reduction in blood pressure.

Coenzyme Q10 has been extremely effective in reducing elevated blood pressure in hypertension as well as improving other serious cardiac conditions.[xviii] [xix] [xx] [xxi] A total daily dose between 120-200 mg seemed to deliver the most benefit.

The amino acid L-carnitine demonstrated its therapeutic value in several clinical trials with primary hypertensive patients.[xxii] [xxiii] It reduced symptoms and like all other supplements was well tolerated with no side effects. The doses varied between 2 to 4 grams a day.

Several studies using vitamin B6 to treat primary hypertension had very favorable results in decreasing blood pressure.[xxiv] [xxv]

Also, a vitamin D deficiency may exist in hypertensive patients and its replacement may improve blood pressure by correcting calcium metabolism irregularities.[xxvi] [xxvii] [xxviii]

The involvement of free radicals and elevated oxidation rates, which are common in diabetes, brings to the forefront the role of antioxidants. There appears to be a correlation between low levels of serum antioxidants and the development of primary hypertension, atherosclerosis and ischemic heart disease.[xxix] [xxx]

Beta carotene and vitamin A are included in some of these studies, but most of the attention has been focused on vitamins C and E.[xxxi] [xxxii] [xxxiii] These vitamins seem to offer at the very least protection from the fore mentioned conditions.

Another link to cardiovascular problems that can affect diabetes patients, and the general population is serum homocysteine levels. Over three decades ago a Dr. Kilmer McCully, a Harvard educated researcher, discovered that high levels of serum homocysteine were a direct link to heart disease. At that time though, everyone was focusing their attention on the dangers of serum cholesterol and developing drugs to combat this condition in hopes to reduce associated deaths. It is interesting to note that almost half of the people that suffer heart attacks have normal serum cholesterol, so there must be other pathologies involved. Cholesterol occlusion can be the end result of a process that first begins damage to the intima lining of the vessel due to an inability to repair it from vitamin deficiencies. This damage causes vascular seepage and the body, without raw materials to effect proper repair, mobilizes fibrin and cholesterol to construct a patch and as long as the vitamin deficiency exists cholesterol keeps being produced. I have seen studies and have personally observed a decrease of nearly 60 points in total cholesterol from just an increase in vitamin C and E with no changes in diet, exercise or medications.[xxxiv] [xxxv] [xxxvi] It was noted that even infants could die from cardiac failure with the only identifiable cause being elevated homocysteine levels. So, the time required for the progression of this condition is extremely brief. Dr. McCully also discovered that homocysteine levels are kept in check effectively and also inexpensively by vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid.[xxxvii] [xxxviii]

There are studies that suggest that Type II patients have higher serum homocysteine levels than both Type I patients and normal controls.[xxxix] One of the several possible factors that might help explain these results may be that the sulfonylureas have been known to decrease some B vitamins in diabetes patients. Likewise the biguanides class of oral hypoglycemics causes a reduction of serum B12 and folic acid.[xl] [xli] These two classes of oral hypoglycemic drugs are often used together and may create an environment that can host not only an elevated homocysteine level, but may be involved in a number of other complications due to the vitamin loss associated with them.

When we look for the ways to help our hypertensive, diabetic patients we can begin to evaluate certain nutritional parameters and help maximize each of our patient’s therapy.

Dr. Brian P. Jakes, Jr., N.D., C.N.C. is a Board Certified Doctor of Naturopathy as well as a Certified Nutritional Consultant. In his practice, in Mandeville, LA, Dr. Jakes works with physicians to treat a large number of diabetes patients. This is an excerpt from his upcoming book; "Diabetes: The Essence Of A Cure”