ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ARTERIAL STIFFNESS AND INSULIN RESISTANCE IN OBESE YOUNG ADULTS

https://youtu.be/N1srHJCAX6c BACKGROUND: Arterial stiffness, reflecting reduced vascular elasticity, is strongly linked to adverse cardiovascular outcomes, especially in individuals with obesity. As obesity drives insulin resistance (IR) through chronic inflammation and impaired glucose regulation, these metabolic changes may accelerate vascular stiffening. Understanding how arterial stiffness relates to markers of insulin resistance may help identify early cardiometabolic risk in young adults with obesity. Purpose: The purpose of this analysis was to examine the association between vascular stiffness to IR and metabolic biomarkers in young adults with obesity. METHODS: Data were collected cross-sectionally from 14 obese young adults (age = 24.4±3.4 y, body mass index [BMI] = 35.7±5.9 kg/m2, male = 57.1%, White = 78.6%). Height, weight, and body composition were measured using standardized procedures and multi-frequency bio-electrical impedance analysis (InBody770). Augmentation index (AI%) was estimated as an indirect measure of arterial stiffness. Central systolic (cSBP, mmHg), diastolic (cDBP, mmHg), mean arterial (cMAP, mmHg), and pulse pressure (cPP, mmHg) were also estimated using an automated upper-arm blood pressure monitor (OMRON Silver). Fasting blood samples were collected, analyzed twice, and mean values were used. IR was calculated using the Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (Fasting Glucose [mmol/L] x Fasting Insulin [μU/mL]) / 22.5). Metabolic biomarkers including gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP, pg/mL), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1, pg/mL), lactate (mg/dL), and leptin (pg/mL) were also collected. Data was analyzed using Pearson’s correlations, with Spearman’s rank-order correlations applied when normality assumptions were violated. RESULTS: Mean AI% was 42.1 ± 21.7%. Mean central blood pressure values were as follows: cSBP = 119.1± 35.3 mmHg, cDBP = 79.9 ± 13.7 mmHg, cMAP = 103.7 ± 14.7 mmHg, cPP = 46.3 ± 10.4. AI% and cPP were not significantly associated with any insulin resistance or metabolic biomarkers (each p ≥ 0.062). The relationship between cSBP and leptin trended toward significance (r = 0.518; p = 0.058). cDBP and cMAP were both significantly associated with leptin (r = 0.586; p = 0.028) and (r = 0.586; p = 0.028), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These cross-sectional data suggest arterial stiffness, as assessed through AI%, is not significantly associated with insulin resistance or metabolic biomarkers in young adults with obesity. In contrast, higher central blood pressures, particularly cDBP and cMAP, are strongly associated with higher leptin levels in young adults with obesity, suggesting that central hemodynamic measures may better reflect early metabolic dysregulation within this population. Future research should explore whether central blood pressure markers can aid in early detection of metabolic dysregulation and help attenuate cardiometabolic risk in young adults with obesity.