Table 1

 Comparison of biochemical and demographic parameters between hypertensive patients and control subjects

Hypertensives (n = 55)Controls (n = 55)p Value
Data are mean (SD); p values refer to t test for paired data.
HDL, high density lipoprotein; AST, aspartate transaminase; ALT, alanine transaminase; γGT, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase. Insulin resistance was estimated as the homeostasis model assessment index (see methods).
Upper reference limits are 37 IU/l for AST, 40 IU/l for ALT, and 50 IU/l for γGT, in our laboratory.
Fasting serum insulin (μIU/ml)9.67 (6.50)7.13 (2.66)0.011
Fasting serum glucose (mg/l)91.9 (11.7)87.5 (10.1)0.064
Insulin resistance (%)2.27 (1.81)1.56 (0.70)0.011
Body mass index (kg/m2)24.9 (3.0)24.0 (2.2)0.073
Serum total cholesterol (mg/dl)207.3 (31.0)195.4 (41.1)0.077
Serum HDL cholesterol (mg/dl)48.8 (11.5)48.8 (11.7)0.983
Serum triglycerides (mg/dl)110.6 (55.3)107.4 (51.1)0.619
AST (IU/l)19.9 (4.9)18.9 (4.2)0.232
ALT (IU/l)22.0 (8.2)20.4 (7.5)0.222
γGT (IU/l)23.6 (13.6)25.5 (19.3)0.545
Age (years)52.7 (10.0)52.5 (10.0)0.219