In a small study of 30 women, those with high blood pressure had higher levels of the hormone kisspeptin in their blood, and kisspeptin levels were linked to higher systolic (top) blood pressure. The hormone didn't relate to body‑fat measures, but the hypertensive group also showed signs of insulin resistance and larger visceral fat cells.

Kisspeptin has a major role in reproductive regulation. Furthermore, it is also involved in metabolic and cardiovascular regulation as well as is a potent vasoconstrictor. This study aimed to: 1) determine correlations between serum kisspeptin levels with obesity/metabolic parameters; 2) compare parameters between non-hypertensive ([non-HT] N.=15) and hypertensive ([HT] N.=15) female subjects; and 3) determine correlations between leptin, systolic blood pressure (SBP) or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) with obesity and metabolic factors. Clinical parameters and fasting blood and adipose tissue samples were collected from women undergoing open abdominal surgery. Serum kisspeptin was not correlated with obesity parameters but was positively correlated with only SBP (P<0.05). Serum kisspeptin, SBP, DBP, body weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, plasma glucose, plasma insulin, the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and height of visceral adipocytes (VA) were higher but the Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI) was lower in hypertensive compared to non-hypertensive female subjects (P<0.05). Leptin was positively correlated with obesity and metabolic paramters including area, width, and perimeter of subcutaneous adipocytes, and area, width, height, and perimeter of VA (P<0.05) but was negatively correlated the QUICKI (P<0.001). SBP had positive correlations with insulin, glucose, HOMA-IR, and kisspeptin, but had a negative correlation with QUICKI (P<0.05). DBP had positive correlations with body weight, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, insulin, glucose, HOMA-IR, and width of VA (P<0.05), but had a negative correlation with the QUICKI (P<0.05). Kisspeptin, obesity especially visceral adiposity, and insulin resistance might contribute to increased blood pressure. Further studies are required to reveal the underlying mechanism of kisspeptin on metabolic and cardiovascular regulation.