Effects of angiotensin II on insulin sensitivity: a placebo-controlled study

What Was Tested

Researchers studied Angiotensin II in this randomized controlled trial publication.

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study, 12 healthy male subjects attended on 3 study days for the evaluation of the effects of a subpressor (1 ng min-1kg-1) and pressor (5 ng min-1kg-1) infusion of angiotensin II on whole-body insulin sensitivity using the euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp.

Frequent measurements of blood pressure and heart rate were recorded and blood samples were collected for determination of serum insulin, C-peptide and K+ concentration, plasma renin activity and plasma angiotensin II concentration. 3.

Who Took Part

The study group was 12 subjects.

PubMed indexes the participants as adults, men only.

How the Study Was Run

The researchers set it up as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled and crossover study.

Random assignment meant chance, not the researchers, decided who got Angiotensin II and who got the comparison, which limits bias.

Neither the subjects nor the staff measuring them knew who was on Angiotensin II, so expectations could not easily colour the readings.

A placebo (an inactive look-alike) gave the Angiotensin II group a baseline to be compared against.

Each person switched between Angiotensin II and the comparison at some point, usually with a gap in between.

What Was Measured

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study, 12 healthy male subjects attended on 3 study days for the evaluation of the effects of a subpressor (1 ng min-1kg-1) and pressor (5 ng min-1kg-1) infusion of angiotensin II on whole-body insulin sensitivity using the euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp.

Frequent measurements of blood pressure and heart rate were recorded and blood samples were collected for determination of serum insulin, C-peptide and K+ concentration, plasma renin activity and plasma angiotensin II concentration. 3.

PubMed files the paper under topics including Aldosterone, Angiotensin II, Blood Glucose, Blood Pressure, C-Peptide, Glucose Clamp Technique and Insulin.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of Angiotensin II in 12 subjects.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The publication is from 1993 (Clinical science (London, England : 1979)), a journal based in England.

More context: the Angiotensin II compound page, all human trials.