Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 56, 60-67, Copyright © 1983 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Urinary C-peptide: a simple measure of integrated insulin production with emphasis on the effects of body size, diet, and corticosteroids

BJ Hoogwerf and FC Goetz

C-Peptide is secreted from the beta-cell in equimolar quantities with insulin. Since a fraction of C-peptide is excreted in the urine, measurement of C-peptide in timed urine collections is a simple indirect measure of integrated insulin production. Normal subjects were studied to determine the effects of diet and oral prednisone on urinary C-peptide excretion. In subjects on a defined diet, there is a positive correlation of urinary C-peptide with body weight. When insulin production is increased after oral prednisone, there is also a positive correlation with body mass index and percent ideal body weight. Prednisone increases plasma glucose, immunoreactive insulin, and serum and urinary C-peptide levels beginning 8-12 h after oral administration. This effect of prednisone is most marked in the postprandial state. Diets high in carbohydrate and protein result in significantly more insulin production, as measured by urinary C- peptide, than isocaloric diets with low protein or carbohydrate composition.

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				A. E. Buyken, Y. Kellerhoff, S. Hahn, A. Kroke, and T. Remer Urinary C-Peptide Excretion in Free-Living Healthy Children Is Related to Dietary Carbohydrate Intake but Not to the Dietary Glycemic Index J. Nutr., July 1, 2006; 136(7): 1828 - 1833. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]