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Body composition, energy expenditure and physical activity

Hydration biomarkers and copeptin: relationship with ad libitum energy intake, energy expenditure, and metabolic fuel selection

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 74, pages 158–166 (2020)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objective

Evidence from non-human species indicate that hydration and arginine vasopressin (AVP) influence fuel selection, energy expenditure (EE), and food intake, but these relationships are unclear in humans. We sought to assess whether hydration biomarkers [24-h urine volume (UVol) and urine urea nitrogen concentration (UUN)] and copeptin (a surrogate for AVP) are associated with 24-h EE, respiratory quotient (RQ), and daily energy intake (DEI).

Subjects/Methods

In a secondary analysis of collected data, we selected healthy adults (Group 1, n = 177) who had 24-h whole-room indirect calorimetry measurements in energy balance with 24-h urine collection and fasting copeptin measurements (n = 117), followed by 3 days ad libitum food intake. A separate group (Group 2, n = 284) with hydration markers and calorimetry measurements was also studied. The main outcome measures were 24-h RQ, 24-h EE, DEI, substrate oxidation.

Results

In Group 1, lower 24-h UVol and higher 24-h UUN, indicating lower hydration, were correlated with lower 24-h RQ (r = 0.35, p < 0.0001, and r = −0.29, p = 0.0001, respectively; results similar in Group 2) and predicted subsequent reduced DEI (r = 0.20, p = 0.01, and r = −0.27, p = 0.0003, respectively), adjusted for confounders. Copeptin was independently associated with 24-h lipid oxidation (r = −0.23, p = 0.01). In Group 2, lower hydration was associated with reduced 24-h EE (24-h UVol: r = 0.29, p < 0.0001; 24-h UUN: r = −0.25, p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Hydration biomarkers were associated with metabolic differences characterized by altered food intake, fuel selection, and possibly EE. Independently, copeptin was associated with higher lipid oxidation.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the nursing, clinical, and dietary staffs and laboratory technicians of the clinical research center for their valuable assistance and care of the volunteers.

Funding

This research was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Obesity and Diabetes Clinical Research Section, Phoenix Epidemiology and Clinical Research Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Phoenix, AZ, USA

    Douglas C. Chang, Alessio Basolo, Paolo Piaggi, Susanne B. Votruba & Jonathan Krakoff

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  1. Douglas C. Chang
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Contributions

DCC, AB, PP, SBV, and JK designed the study. DCC, PP, and JK designed the statistical analysis plan and analyzed the data. DCC wrote the manuscript and AB, PP, SBV, and JK edited the manuscript. DCC is the guarantor of the work and, as such, had full access to all the study data and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

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Correspondence to Douglas C. Chang.

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Chang, D.C., Basolo, A., Piaggi, P. et al. Hydration biomarkers and copeptin: relationship with ad libitum energy intake, energy expenditure, and metabolic fuel selection. Eur J Clin Nutr 74, 158–166 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-019-0445-6

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