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Ethnicity-specific differences in L-arginine status in South African men

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 26, pages 737–743 (2012)Cite this article

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Abstract

The aetiology for an increasing incidence of hypertensive cardiovascular disease amongst Africans in southern Africa is unclear. Hypertension may be induced by inadequate release of L-arginine-derived nitric oxide impairing vascular tone regulation. In addition, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is associated with cardiovascular disease. We compared profiles of L-arginine in African and Caucasian men of similar age with cardiovascular risk factors. We studied 163 Caucasian and 132 African men, respectively, (20 to 70 years) measuring serum L-arginine, ADMA, creatinine, urea, symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) and blood pressure. L-arginine levels were significantly lower, whereas blood pressure and pulse wave velocity were significantly higher in African men. Simple linear regression showed ADMA more strongly associated with L-arginine in Caucasians (r=0.59 vs 0.19), whereas association of SDMA with L-arginine was significant only in Caucasians (r=0.43 vs 0.001). The stronger association of L-arginine with ADMA in Caucasian men was confirmed by multiple regression analysis (β=0.46 vs 0.25).

Our findings show that the relationship of cardiovascular risk factors with serum L-arginine and some of its catabolites is different in African and Caucasian men and that this may be associated with a relatively higher prevalence of hypertension in African men.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), North–West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa

    M C Glyn, J M Van Rooyen, R Schutte, H W Huisman, C M T Fourie, W Smith, L Malan, N T Malan, C M C Mels & A E Schutte

  2. Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg–Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

    M Anderssohn, N Lüneburg & R H Böger

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Glyn, M., Anderssohn, M., Lüneburg, N. et al. Ethnicity-specific differences in L-arginine status in South African men. J Hum Hypertens 26, 737–743 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/jhh.2011.103

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