Copeptin, a surrogate marker for arginine vasopressin secretion, is associated with higher glucose and insulin concentrations but not higher blood pressure in obese men

AimTo explore the putative associations of plasma copeptin, the C-terminal portion of provasopressin and a surrogate marker for arginine vasopressin secretion, with obesity-related health problems, such as hyperlipidaemia, hyperinsulinaemia, hyperglycaemia, high blood pressure and an android fat distribution. MethodsIn 103 obese men (mean agestandard deviation: 49.410.2years) and 27 normal weight control men (mean age: 51.58.4years), taking no medication, we measured 24-h ambulatory blood pressure, fasting blood concentrations of copeptin, lipids, glucose and insulin, and determined body composition by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scanning. ResultsThe obese men had higher [median (interquartile range)] plasma copeptin concentrations [6.6 (4.6-9.5) vs. 4.9 (3.5-6.8) pmol/l, P = 0.040] compared with the normal weight men. In the obese men, plasma copeptin was not related to 24-h systolic blood pressure (r=0.11, P=0.29), 24-h diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.11, P = 0.28), BMI (r=0.09, P=0.37), total body fatness percentage (r=0.10, P=0.33), android fat mass percentage (r=0.04, P=0.66) or serum triglyceride concentrations (r=0.04; P=0.68). In contrast, plasma copeptin was associated with higher serum insulin concentrations (r=0.26, P=0.0085) and insulin resistance as assessed by the homeostasis assessment model (r=0.28, P = 0.0051). ConclusionsPlasma copeptin, a surrogate marker for arginine vasopressin secretion, is higher in obese men compared with normal weight men, and is associated with abnormalities in glucose and insulin metabolism, but not with higher blood pressure or an android fat distribution in obese men. What's new? This study shows that plasma copeptin, a surrogate marker for arginine vasopressin secretion, is higher in obese men compared with normal weight men, and is associated with an abnormal glucose and insulin metabolism, but not higher blood pressure, in obese men, independent of body composition. The results indicate that the arginine vasopressin system could play a role in the pathogenesis of glucose intolerance and Type2 diabetes in obese men.