A groundbreaking study tracking the health of 1,595 adolescents from the University of Bristol’s Children of the 90s cohort has uncovered alarming connections between high blood sugar and accelerated heart damage in seemingly healthy young adults. The research, the largest of its kind, followed participants from age 17 to 24 to explore the long-term effects of prediabetes on heart health.
The study assessed the prevalence of prediabetes, which is characterized by elevated fasting blood glucose levels, using two thresholds: ≥5.6 mmol/L, as recommended by the American Diabetes Association, and ≥6.1 mmol/L, the current standard in many countries. At age 17, only 6.2% of adolescents had fasting blood sugar levels above 5.6 mmol/L, but this figure surged to nearly 27% by age 24. Meanwhile, the prevalence of blood sugar levels ≥6.1 mmol/L rose from 1.1% to 5.6% during the same period.
Additionally, the study found significant increases in heart damage indicators, such as left ventricular hypertrophy, which tripled from 2.4% at age 17 to 7.1% at age 24. Heart dysfunction also worsened, rising from 9.2% in adolescence to 15.8% in young adulthood.
The data reveals a concerning link between persistent high blood sugar levels and heart health. Adolescents with consistently high blood sugar levels from 17 to 24 years showed a 46% higher risk of developing left ventricular hypertrophy, with the risk tripling for those with blood sugar above 6.1 mmol/L. High blood sugar was also associated with impaired heart muscle relaxation and elevated pressure in the heart, further compromising its function. Furthermore, persistent insulin resistance increased the risk of premature heart damage by 10%.
The study also highlighted that females experienced a significantly faster rate of heart damage than males, with glucose levels contributing to a 0.57 g/m2.7 increase in cardiac mass in females compared to just 0.11 g/m2.7 in males.
This research is the first to document the earliest manifestations of high blood sugar and insulin resistance on heart health in youth. Previous studies have linked elevated glucose levels in adolescence to a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes in midlife. However, this study is unique in its focus on the immediate heart-related effects of high blood sugar in a large group of healthy youth.
Andrew Agbaje, physician and associate professor of Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Eastern Finland, emphasized the importance of early intervention, particularly for females, who were found to be at a heightened risk of rapid heart damage. “Our findings underscore the critical importance of lifestyle choices, particularly diet and physical activity, as adolescents transition to adulthood,” Agbaje explained. “Surprisingly, high blood sugar may aggressively damage the hearts of females at a much faster rate than males, highlighting the need for targeted prevention strategies for young women.”
The study also explored the role of increased body fat and insulin resistance, which were found to be linked in a reinforcing cycle. About two-thirds of the impact of insulin resistance on heart enlargement was attributed to increased fat mass, further emphasizing the role of body weight in cardiovascular health.
This research, which received support from several prestigious foundations, calls for greater awareness of the long-term cardiovascular risks associated with prediabetes in youth, urging lifestyle interventions before the onset of more severe health conditions in adulthood.
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