Background:Young individuals with high normal blood pressure (HNBP) are at risk for hypertension. The aim of our study was to compare NO production and the intensity of free radical processes in young males with different BP levels.Material/Methods:Male subjects aged 18-45 years with normal BP, HNBP, and hypertension underwent physical and cardiological examination. NO production was evaluated by measuring plasma nitrite and nitrate (NOx) and 24-hour urinary excretion of NOx. Lipid peroxidation (LP) intensity and serum antioxidant activity (AOA) were measured using the biochemiluminescence method.Results:HNBP was associated with increased 24-hour systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), SBP and DBP variability, plasma and 24-hour urinary NOx and LP intensity, and decreased total AOA as compared to normotensive controls. We observed a direct nonlinear correlation between plasma NOx and SBP and between 24-hour urinary NOx and DBP, and a close inverse correlation between LP intensity and AOA in patients with HNBP. In the presence of two cardiovascular risk factors (smoking and obesity), patients with HNBP displayed higher LP intensity and lower levels of NOx than in both nonsmokers with normal body weight and control subjects. In hypertensive patients, SBP, DBP and LP intensity inversely correlated with plasma and urinary NOx.Conclusions:Activation of LP processes and depression of AOA proceed in parallel with declining NO production and severity of hypertension. Early correction of the revealed disorders before the appearance of clinical symptoms may be promising in terms of prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Keywords: Antioxidants - metabolism, Blood Pressure - physiology, Free Radicals - metabolism, Hypertension - metabolism, Lipid Peroxidation, Nitrates - blood, Nitric Oxide - metabolism, Nitrites - blood, Risk Factors, Smoking