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| Evaluating
Cardiac Risk - Fasting Insulin Levels |
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Evaluating
Cardiac Risk - Article Index
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Fasting Insulin Levels
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Measurement
of fasting insulin levels is one of the risk factors most highly
correlated with the development of heart disease. A recent case-control
study of heart disease revealed that patient with fasting insulin
levels above the median had a 5.5 times the odds of developing
heart disease then those without elevated insulin levels (even
after controlling for age, life style factors, BMI, systolic
hypertension or family history). Ideal fasting insulin levels
should be less the 10uU/ml if your levels are above 15uU/ml
then you are at greater risk for heart disease.
Below are Four significant studies done in Wales, France, Finland
and Canada support the theory that high insulin alone can be
predictive of heart problems.
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The
Caerphilly, Wales, heart-disease study, which observed
2,512 men from 45 to 59, found a connection between
fasting plasma insulin levels and heart disease that
existed independently of other risk factors. (1)
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In
the Finnish Helsinki Policeman Study, 1,059 men from
30 to 59 were tracked for five years. The data revealed
that both fatal and nonfatal heart attacks were most
common in those who had the highest insulin levels.
(2)
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The
Paris, France, prospective study followed 7,246 men
for an average of 63 months. Again, coronary heart disease
was proportionate to insulin levels, and the relationship
was greater when the subjects were obese. (3)
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study done in Quebec, Canada, was published in The New
England Journal of Medicine in 1996. The researchers had
collected blood samples from 2,103 men. Over five years,
114 of them had heart attacks. The insulin levels of these
individuals were 18 percent higher on average than the
rest of the group. (4) |
Since the measuring of fasting insulin isn’t always a
routine blood test another marker, which correlates well with
fasting insulin, is the fasting triglyceride/HDL ratio. Work
done at Harvard Medical school, demonstrated that the higher
the fasting triglyceride/HDL chostesterol ratio the more likely
you were to have a heart attack.. In this study researchers
compared individuals who had just survived their first heart
attack with age-matched group. When they compared the fasting
triglyceride/HDL ratio they found that those patients who
had the highest ratios were 16 times more likely to have a
heart attack then those with lower ratios. From these studies
and others it appears that hyperinsulinemia independently
predicts ischemic heart disease
Hyperinsulinemia
can be determined a number of ways the most common:
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A fasting plasma insulin level higher than 15 mU/mL.
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A glucose-to-insulin ratio of less than 3 and low concentrations
of free fatty acids and ketones
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c-peptide is high (greater than 4.6)
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Disclaimer: The
information contained on this website has not been evaluated by the
FDA. This information is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or
prevent any disease. All material provided in the Dr. Brizel's web
site is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice
of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any
questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking
any diet, exercise or other health program.
©2002,
All Rights Reserved, Center For Clinical Age Management, Inc.
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