Insulin secretion marker
Quality and Security
High-quality testing run in a CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited lab in Santa Clara, California.
About C-Peptide
${ activeTab.tab_content.text }
Loading...
About C-Peptide
Overview and History
C‑peptide is a 31–amino‑acid peptide that links the A and B chains of proinsulin. During processing in pancreatic beta cells, proinsulin is cleaved into mature insulin and equimolar amounts of C‑peptide, which then circulate before being cleared, primarily by the kidneys.
Historically, C‑peptide was adopted as a laboratory measure because it is more stable in plasma than insulin and is not present in pharmaceutical insulin preparations. Its concentration provides a biochemical readout of endogenous insulin secretion and is useful for understanding patterns of insulin production and clearance in metabolic assessments.
Interpreting Highs and Lows
Higher C‑peptide levels often reflect greater endogenous insulin secretion, which can occur as a compensatory response to reduced insulin sensitivity or altered metabolic demand; impaired renal clearance can also raise measured values. Lower C‑peptide levels suggest reduced pancreatic insulin output or suppressed endogenous secretion, and values may be low when external insulin is present or when beta‑cell secretory capacity is diminished.
Any single C‑peptide result should be interpreted within the context of fasting glucose, insulin, HOMA‑IR, kidney function, HbA1c and other Cardio Zoomer markers to distinguish secretion changes from clearance effects and to map overall cardiometabolic patterns.
Featured Test
Cardio Zoomer includes C‑peptide to quantify endogenous insulin secretion and metabolic burden. Paired with glucose, insulin, HOMA‑IR, lipids and inflammatory markers, C‑peptide helps clinicians identify insulin‑driven patterns of cardiometabolic strain and personalize risk interpretation and monitoring strategies.
Related Articles
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, yet most testing still focuses on surface-level metrics like total cholesterol or...
What do you think of when you hear the term “cardiovascular disease?” Most people immediately think of high cholesterol, but cardiovascular risk goes ...
A common theme among many of my nutrition clients is that despite eating well, staying active, and managing stress, they feel worn down, inflamed, and...
When it comes to cardiovascular disease (CVD), many people immediately think of high cholesterol. High cholesterol—a specific type of dyslipidemia or ...
Results trusted by over 18,000 functional wellness professionals
We’re the leading provider of specialty wellness lab testing because we develop our testing with rigorous, ongoing research by top clinical experts, doctors, and scientists.
-1.png?width=542&height=427&name=shutterstock_2371998817%201%20(1)-1.png)
.png?width=207&height=108&name=Group%201410104259%20(1).png)
The gold standard of accuracy in the lab industry
Our tests run on a proprietary 3Dense microchip technology platform that boasts unrivaled specificity and sensitivity. While most other labs carry only CLIA certification, we're CAP-accredited by the College of American Pathologists.
.png?width=487&height=356&name=Frame%201410104197%20(3).png)
.png?width=187&height=63&name=category%20Card%20text%20(1).png)
.png?width=202&height=63&name=category%20Card%20text%20(2).png)
Mary Beth Augustine
DCN, RDN, FAND- Lead Clinical Educator
Suzanne Barker
MS, RDN, LD, CTTS, CGP- Clinical Educator
Suzette Garcia
MSc- MHNE- Clinical Educator
Brooke Mader Ganev
MS, CNS, LDN, FDN- Clinical Educator
Adair Anderson
MS, RDN, LDN- Clinical Educator
Lillie Luu Nguyen
DCN, CNS, LDN- Clinical Educator
Jason Barker
ND- Clinical Educator
Emaline Brown
ND- Clinical Educator
Dana Filatova
DCN, CNS, LDN- Clinical Educator
Jessy Dhanjal
ND- Clinical Educator
Nour Amri
MS, LDN, CNS, CKNS- Clinical Educator
