Systemic oxidative stress associates with new-onset hypertension in the general population

Arno R Bourgonje; Martin F Bourgonje; Adrian Post; Sacha la Bastide-van Gemert; Lyanne M Kieneker; Marian L C Bulthuis; Sanne J Gordijn; Ron T Gansevoort; Stephan J L Bakker; Douwe J Mulder; Andreas Pasch; Harry van Goor; Amaal E Abdulle

doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2022.05.020

Systemic oxidative stress associates with new-onset hypertension in the general population

Free Radic Biol Med. 2022 Jul:187:123-131. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2022.05.020. Epub 2022 May 28.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
² Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
³ Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
⁴ Department of Epidemiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
⁵ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
⁶ Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Vascular Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
⁷ Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, Austria.
⁸ Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Vascular Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: a.eman.abdulle@umcg.nl.

PMID: 35636658
DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2022.05.020

Abstract

Background: Oxidative stress is known to be involved in the development of hypertension, but accurate redox biomarkers predicting the risk of developing hypertension are scarce. Serum free sulfhydryl groups (R-SH, free thiols) have been shown to accurately reflect systemic oxidative stress in various conditions. In this study, we aimed to investigate associations between serum free thiols and the risk of developing new-onset hypertension in a population-based cohort study.

Methods: Subjects (n = 3,575) who participated in the Prevention of REnal and Vascular ENd-stage Disease (PREVEND) study, a prospective, population-based cohort study in the Netherlands, were included. Baseline protein-adjusted serum free thiols were studied for their associations with the development of hypertension, defined as a systolic blood pressure (SBP) of at least 140 mmHg, a diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of at least 90 mmHg, or the first usage of antihypertensive medication. Subjects with hypertension at baseline were excluded from the study.

Results: Mean protein-adjusted serum free thiols at baseline was 5.16 μmol/g of protein (range: 1.62-8.41 μmol/g). Protein-adjusted serum free thiols were significantly associated with the risk of incident hypertension (hazard ratio [HR] per doubling 0.60 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.49-0.72, P < 0.001), also after adjustment for age and sex (HR 0.81 [95% CI: 0.66-0.91], P < 0.05), but not after additional adjustment for relevant confounding factors (HR 0.90 [95% CI: 0.70-1.15], P = 0.382).

Conclusion: Higher levels of serum free thiols, i.e. less oxidative stress, are associated with a decreased risk of developing incident hypertension in subjects from the general population.

Keywords: Free thiols; Hypertension; Oxidative stress; Population; Redox; Sulfur.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Blood Pressure / physiology
Cohort Studies
Humans
Hypertension* / drug therapy
Oxidative Stress / physiology
Prospective Studies
Risk Factors
Sulfhydryl Compounds

Substances

Sulfhydryl Compounds