Original Contribution

Am J Hypertens (2004) 17, 1023–1028; doi: 10.1016/j.amjhyper.2004.05.007

Relationship of body composition to stress-induced pressure natriuresis in youth*

Martha E. Wilson1, Gregory A. Harshfield1,2, Luis Ortiz1, Coral Hanevold1, Gaston Kapuka1, Lynne MacKey1, Delores Gillis1, Lesley Edmonds1 and Conner Evans1

  1. 1Georgia Prevention Institute and the Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia
  2. 2Department of Physiology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia

Correspondence: Dr. Gregory A. Harshfield, Medical College of Georgia, MCG Annex H.S. 1640, Augusta, GA 30912-4534 E-mail: Gharshfi@mail.mcg.edu

*This study was supported by grants HL-59954 and HL-64225 from the National Institutes of Health and HL069999 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Received 18 December 2003; Revised 24 May 2004; Accepted 29 May 2004.

Top

Abstract

Background: The contribution of stress to obesity-related cardiovascular disease is uncertain. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of body composition on stress-induced pressure natriuresis.

Methods: Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry was performed in 127 African American and white youths to assess lean body mass (LBM), fat mass (FM), and total percentage of body fat (%BF). The stress protocol was comprised of a 2-h baseline period, 1-h video game competition stressor, and 2-h recovery period. Blood and urine samples were collected hourly and blood pressure (BP) was obtained at 15-min intervals.

Results: Both BP and urinary sodium excretion(UNaV) increased from baseline to stress and returned to prestress levels after stress (P = .001 for each). The BP levels and changes were positively correlated with LBM. In contrast, levels and changes in sodium excretion UNaV were inversely correlated with FM and %BM. Multiple regression analyses that included ethnicity, sex, angiotensin II (Ang II), and measures of body composition in the models indicated the following: a) LBM was the best predictor of stress systolic BP and independently contributed with ethnicity to stress diastolic BP; b) ethnicity was the only independent predictor of the stress-related change in systolic and diastolic BP; c) LBM was the only independent predictor of the change in BP from stress to recovery for both systolic and diastolic BP; and d) total percent body fat accounted for 11.2% of the variance of stress UNaV, with Ang II contributing an additional 6.1%.

Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, ethnicity and body composition are related to stress-induced pressure natriuresis.

Keywords:

Lean body mass, blood pressure, stress, race, pressure natriuresis

Extra navigation

.

naturejobs

ADVERTISEMENT