Aim To investigate the association between vascular endothelial function and arteriosclerosis in prehypertensive, hypertensive and healthy subjects. Methods 810 consecutive subjects were divided into three groups: hypertension group, prehypertension group and control group. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity （baPWV） and flow-mediated brachial artery dilation （FMD） were used to evaluate the artery vascular stiffness and endothelial function respectively. Results Prehypertension group had lower baPWV values and higher FMD values than those in hypertension group（1419.98±209.18 cm/s vs 1487.92±316.99 cm/s and 6.84%±2.64% vs 6.45%±2.46%, P＜0.001）. And there were significant differences between prehypertension group and normal group （1243.33±170.52 cm/s and 8.01%±2.78%）. Furthermore, FMD was significantly and negatively correlated to baPWV in overall population （r-0.316,P<0.001）, hypertension （r＝－0.354, P＜0.001） and prehypertension（r＝－0.266, ＜0.001） group but not in normal group （r＝－0.104, P＝0.097）. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis showed that FMD was significantly correlated to baPWV in prehypertension group. Conclusions Vascular endothelial dysfunction is initiated in prehypetensive subjects. Therefore, it is necessary to detect FMD in prehypertensive subjects to avoid the progress of arteriosclerosis.