Plasma ghrelin levels and malnutrition: a comparison of two etiologies

Eat Weight Disord. 2003 Sep;8(3):207-11. doi: 10.1007/BF03325015.

Abstract

Ghrelin is a peptide hormone that is involved in regulating growth hormone secretion as well as food intake and energy homeostasis. The aim of this study was to compare changes in plasma ghrelin levels in patients with malnutrition due to anorexia nervosa (AN) or short bowel syndrome (SBS). Blood samples for laboratory analyses were taken from 16 AN patients (plus 13 comparable healthy controls) and 27 SBS patients (plus 13 comparable healthy controls) after an overnight fast. In comparison with their respective control groups, plasma ghrelin levels were increased in the AN patients (p < 0.05) and significantly decreased in the patients with SBS (p < 0.01). These results suggest that quantitative ghrelin secretion in the gut wall is important in determining ghrelin concentrations in the systemic circulation.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue
  • Adult
  • Anorexia Nervosa / complications*
  • Body Composition
  • Body Mass Index
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Fasting
  • Female
  • Ghrelin
  • Growth Hormone / blood
  • Humans
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 / blood
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / blood
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / metabolism
  • Leptin / blood
  • Male
  • Malnutrition / blood*
  • Malnutrition / diagnosis
  • Malnutrition / etiology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Nutrition Assessment
  • Peptide Hormones / blood*
  • Peptide Hormones / metabolism
  • Peptide Hormones / physiology
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / blood
  • Receptors, Leptin
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Short Bowel Syndrome / complications*
  • Skinfold Thickness

Substances

  • Ghrelin
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3
  • Leptin
  • Peptide Hormones
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Receptors, Leptin
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
  • Growth Hormone