Insulin and blood pressure among healthy children

We evaluated the role of insulin in regulating and predicting blood pressure among 3596 to 2799 Finnish children and adolescents aged 3 to 18 years who were followed from 1980 to 1986. Blood pressure, weight, and height were measured in three surveys 3 years apart. Fasting blood samples were drawn and serum insulin was analyzed. The effect of insulin on blood pressure was evaluated in each of the 3 study years, together with the effect of fasting insulin on future blood pressure and the effect of insulin on the change in blood pressure. We also analyzed the correlation between insulin and blood pressure in different age groups and the correlation between change in insulin and change in blood pressure.