Effect of ageing on diabetes mellitus and hypertension

Ageing is associated with an increasing prevalence of hypertension, atherosclerotic vascular diseases, reduced insulin sensitivity and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). It has been suggested that hyperinsulinaemia/insulin resistance and/or hyperglycaemia could play a role in determining and/or exacerbating the hypertension and vascular disease associated with diabetes mellitus and ageing. The effect of aging on blood glucose showed that high significant increase on blood glucose with increasing aging. Also, there were significant increases in blood elements (Na, K, Cl and Ca) in the population that increase in aging than young one. On the other hand there were a significant increase on blood urea, creatinine and uric acid in the population that increase in aging than young one. The liver enzymes AST, ALT and ALP were a significant increase in blood of human in the population that increases in aging than young one. Concerning lipid profile, we noted that variety induced high significant variation of different lipid parameters in the population that increase in aging than young one. The effect of aging on blood glucose showed that only the variety Tamesrit had a significative increase on blood glucose. Results generally showed that increase in aging were always high significant increase in their blood elements Na, K, Cl and Ca. Also, there is high significant increase in liver functions and kidney functions in the population that increase in aging than young one and high significant variation of different lipid parameters in the population that increase in aging than young one. We suggest that ionic disturbance might be the missing link responsible for the frequent clinical coexistence of hypertension, atherosclerosis and metabolic disorders. Ageing cells may become more vulnerable to ion disturbances, leading to possible elevation of intracellular free calcium and concurrent magnesium depletion. The “ionic hypothesis” of ageing supposes that an alteration in the cellular mechanisms which maintain the homeostasis of cytosolic calcium concentrations may play a key role in the ageing process, and that a sustained accumulation of cellular calcium and/or the depletion of cellular magnesium may also provide the final common pathway for many ageing-associated diseases, including hypertension and NIDDM.