NPPB and metabolic syndrome: In addition to insulin resistance and/or hyperinsulinemia, investigators have found several biomarkers that are associated with MetS, including leptin [3], catecholamines [5], brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) [6], oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol [7], uric acid [8], C-reactive protein (CRP) [3], plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 [3], aldosterone [3], cystatin C [9], and carboxy-terminal prevasopressin (copeptin) [10].