Sarafidis · American journal of nephrology 2007 · narrative review · n=?

The antinatriuretic effect of insulin: an unappreciated mechanism for hypertension associated with insulin resistance?

Cited 85 times in the scientific literature.

Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data

Narrative review of mechanistic and clinical literature without systematic search methodology

PubMed 17245074 · doi:10.1159/000098955 · record verified 2026-08-29

What was done

This narrative review synthesized experimental and clinical literature investigating the renal mechanisms linking insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia to hypertension, focusing on renal sodium retention, tubular transport sites, potassium handling, salt sensitivity, and oxidative stress.

What was found

No numerical data are reported in the abstract. The review synthesizes evidence indicating that the antinatriuretic (sodium-retaining) effect of insulin is preserved in states of metabolic insulin resistance, contributing to volume expansion and elevated blood pressure.

Why it matters

It highlights preserved renal tubular sodium retention during hyperinsulinemia as a mechanistic pathway connecting metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance to hypertension.

Limits

This is a narrative review without systematic search criteria, meta-analytic pooling, or formal risk-of-bias assessment. No study numbers or quantitative effect sizes are provided in the abstract.

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