Improved Insulin Sensitivity With Angiotensin Receptor Neprilysin Inhibition in Individuals With Obesity and Hypertension

Natriuretic peptide (NP) deficiency and sustained renin‐angiotensin system activation are associated with impaired oxidative metabolism and predispose to type‐2 diabetes. We hypothesized that sacubitril/valsartan (LCZ696), which augments NP through neprilysin inhibition while blocking angiotensin II type‐1 (AT1)‐receptors, improves insulin sensitivity, lipid mobilization, and oxidation. After 8 weeks of treatment of obese patients with hypertension, sacubitril/valsartan 400 mg q.d., but not amlodipine 10 mg q.d., was associated with a significant increase from baseline in the insulin sensitivity index (hyperinsulinemic‐euglycemic clamp), and tended to be higher in patients treated with sacubitril/valsartan compared to amlodipine. Abdominal adipose tissue interstitial glycerol concentrations increased with sacubitril/valsartan, but decreased with amlodipine. Whole‐body lipolysis and substrate oxidation did not change with either treatment. Results confirm that sacubitril/valsartan treatment leads to a metabolic benefit in the study population and supports the relevance of neprilysin inhibition along with AT1‐receptor blockade in the regulation of human glucose and lipid metabolism.