A study of the levels of urinary microalbumin in non-diabetic normotensive obese individuals

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus, hypertension and obesity are associated with endothelial dysfunction. Microalbuminu-ria is an early sign of endothelial dysfunction. The occurrence of microalbuminuria in long standing diabetes mellitus and hypertension is well established. This study intends to find the occurrence of microal-buminuria in non-diabetic normotensive obese individuals. Objectives: To estimate urinary albumin creatinine ratio (UACR) in non-diabetic normotensive obese individuals. Design and Methods: 41 non- diabetic normotensive obese adults with Body Mass Index > 23 kg/m2 were taken as cases and 41 age and sex matched healthy non-obese adults with Body Mass Index < 23 kg/m2 were taken as controls. An-thropometric measurements (Body Mass Index and Waist circumference) and biochemical estimations (fasting blood glucose, lipid profile & spot urinary albumin creatinine ratio) were carried out. Results: urinary albumin creatinine ratio was lesser than the established microalbuminuric range of 30 - 300 mg/g, in both cases and controls irrespective of the values obtained for lipid profile and anthropometric indices. Conclusion: Microalbuminuria may not be present in obese patients without diabetes and/hypertension.