Issue 138 Item 11 High Blood Pressure In Kids Predicts Insulin Resistance

Adding exercise and supplements will reduce IR If your teenager has high blood pressure, researchers in the Czech Republic suggest taking steps to ward off insulin resistance. They add that High blood pressure is also associated with low folate levels and a high homocycsteine level.

The researchers examined 164 subjects with a median age of 19 who had high blood pressure, and 173 control subjects with a median age of 18. Most of the study participants were males.

Compared with the control subjects, those with high blood pressure had a higher body mass index, higher insulin levels and lower HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels. They also registered lower levels of folate and higher levels of homocysteine.

Treatment protocols may include exercise to lower insulin resistance. Supplements that aid in lowering homocysteine include vitamins B-6 and B-12 and folic acid. American Journal of Hypertension, Oct. 15, 2002