Copeptin in anorexia nervosa

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Objective: Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is involved in the response to stress and in depression and anxiety. However, studies on ADH in anorexia nervosa (AN) show conflicting results. A major reason for this may be methodological challenges due to short half-life of ADH in circulation and rapid degradation in vitro. To overcome these obstacles, copeptin, the C-terminal fragment stemming from the ADH precursor, has been increasingly used as a stable clinical measure for ADH. Furthermore, copeptin has been recognized as a biomarker of insulin resistance in obesity. Methods: We measured fasting copeptin in plasma from 25 normohydrated, stable women with AN (BMI 13.0 ± 2.0) and 25 age-matched women. Results: No difference in copeptin levels was found (6.8 ± 1.8 vs. 5.5 ± 0.5 pmol/L). Confirmatory, copeptin concentrations were correlated to insulin resistance assessed by the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance. Discussion: We report for the first time that copeptin level as a marker of ADH activity is not altered in fluid- and electrolyte-stabilized patients with severe AN patients, indicating that ADH may not be crucial in the pathophysiological involvement of psychologic stress in AN.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere01551
JournalBrain and Behavior
Volume10
Issue number4
Pages (from-to)1-4
ISSN2162-3279
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 The Authors. Brain and Behavior published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

    Research areas

  • anorexia nervosa, antidiuretic hormone, arginine vasopressin, copeptin, insulin

ID: 270209942