The Relation of Obesity to Circulating B-type Natriuretic Peptide Concentrations in African Americans: The Jackson Heart Study

Background Lower plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentrations in obese individuals (‘natriuretic handicap’) may play a role in the pathogenesis of obesity-related hypertension. Whether this phenomenon may contribute to hypertension in African Americans is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that body mass index (BMI) is inversely related to BNP concentrations in African Americans.