Effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists on copeptin in euvolemic participants

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) plays an important modulatory role in sodium and water homeostasis. Recent studies demonstrated that long-term treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonists (RAs) reduces fluid intake and urine output. To the best of our knowledge, no direct effect of GLP-1 on vasopressin has been observed. This secondary analysis aimed to investigate changes in copeptin levels in euvolemic participants treated with the GLP-1 RA dulaglutide versus placebo.

Secondary analysis of two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trials in 34 patients with primary polydipsia and 20 healthy participants.

Participants received a 3-week intervention with dulaglutide (Trulicity) 1.5 mg or placebo (.9% sodium chloride) subcutaneously once weekly. Blood for copeptin analysis was collected at 08:00 after each treatment phase. To estimate the treatment effect of dulaglutide, we derived the absolute within-subject differences of copeptin between dulaglutide and placebo and used the Wilcoxon rank test for statistical analysis.

All 54 participants of the two cross-over trials were included. Median age was 27 years [interquartile range (IQR), 24-37.5 years], and 63% were female. Median body mass index (BMI) was 23 kg/m2 (IQR, 20.8-24.8). After 3-week treatment, dulaglutide was associated with a significant suppression of copeptin with a median within-subject difference of -.7 pmol/L (p = .047), corresponding to a 12% reduction compared to placebo. Treatment-induced changes in copeptin were not significantly correlated with GLP-1-mediated reductions in blood pressure, BMI, or incidence of nausea.

Our analysis provides evidence that the GLP-1-RA dulaglutide inhibits the vasopressin system and proposes physiological mechanisms that may explain the role of GLP-1 in sodium and water balance.