Homoarginine and blood pressure: a 10-year prospective relationship in normotensives

TY - JOUR

T1 - Homoarginine and blood pressure: a 10-year prospective relationship in normotensives

AU - Mokhaneli, Maserame Cleopatra

AU - Botha-Le Roux, Shani

AU - Fourie, Carla Maria Theresia

AU - Böger, Rainer

AU - Schwedhelm, Edzard

AU - Mels, Catharina Martha Cornelia

PY - 2022/2

Y1 - 2022/2

N2 - Nitric oxide plays a major role in the regulation of blood pressure, and impaired nitric oxide bioavailability contributes to the development of hypertension (HT). Various factors may contribute to nitric oxide bioavailability-including availability of the substrate for nitric oxide synthesis, L-arginine and its homolog L-homoarginine. We investigated whether blood pressure after 10 years associates with baseline L-homoarginine in participants who remained normotensive (NT) or developed HT, respectively. Data from the South African leg of the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology study, performed in the North-West Province, were used. We investigated participants who either remained NT (N = 166) or who developed HT (N = 166) over 10 years. Blood pressure was measured with validated OMRON devices and serum L-homoarginine was analyzed with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. L-homoarginine levels were similar at baseline (p = 0.39) and follow-up (p = 0.93) between NT and hypertensive groups. In the group that remained NT after 10 years, baseline L-homoarginine correlated positively with follow-up brachial systolic blood pressure (adj.R2 = 0.13; β = 0.33; p = 0.001), brachial pulse pressure (adj.R2 = 0.15 β = 0.40; p = 0.001), and central pulse pressure (adj.R2 = 0.20; β = 0.30; p = 0.003). No significant associations were found in the group that developed HT after 10 years. We found a positive, independent association between blood pressure and L-homoarginine in a group that remained NT, but not in a group that developed HT after 10 years. This may suggest a protective role for L-homoarginine to maintain normal blood pressure, but only to a certain level. Once HT develops other factors may overshadow the protective effects of L-homoarginine.

AB - Nitric oxide plays a major role in the regulation of blood pressure, and impaired nitric oxide bioavailability contributes to the development of hypertension (HT). Various factors may contribute to nitric oxide bioavailability-including availability of the substrate for nitric oxide synthesis, L-arginine and its homolog L-homoarginine. We investigated whether blood pressure after 10 years associates with baseline L-homoarginine in participants who remained normotensive (NT) or developed HT, respectively. Data from the South African leg of the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology study, performed in the North-West Province, were used. We investigated participants who either remained NT (N = 166) or who developed HT (N = 166) over 10 years. Blood pressure was measured with validated OMRON devices and serum L-homoarginine was analyzed with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. L-homoarginine levels were similar at baseline (p = 0.39) and follow-up (p = 0.93) between NT and hypertensive groups. In the group that remained NT after 10 years, baseline L-homoarginine correlated positively with follow-up brachial systolic blood pressure (adj.R2 = 0.13; β = 0.33; p = 0.001), brachial pulse pressure (adj.R2 = 0.15 β = 0.40; p = 0.001), and central pulse pressure (adj.R2 = 0.20; β = 0.30; p = 0.003). No significant associations were found in the group that developed HT after 10 years. We found a positive, independent association between blood pressure and L-homoarginine in a group that remained NT, but not in a group that developed HT after 10 years. This may suggest a protective role for L-homoarginine to maintain normal blood pressure, but only to a certain level. Once HT develops other factors may overshadow the protective effects of L-homoarginine.

U2 - 10.1038/s41371-020-00449-5

DO - 10.1038/s41371-020-00449-5

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 34040153

VL - 36

SP - 135

EP - 143

JO - J HUM HYPERTENS

JF - J HUM HYPERTENS

SN - 0950-9240

IS - 2

ER -