Ghrelin does not significantly alter glucose or insulin levels in obese women
Ghrelin administration did not significantly alter glucose or insulin levels in obese women.
According to recent research published in the journal Diabetes Obesity & Metabolism, “Ghrelin is a 28-amino-acid peptide, predominantly produced by the stomach. There are several studies that suggest the importance of ghrelin in obesity. However, the pancreatic endocrine response to ghrelin in obesity is unclear at present. The aim of this study was to clarify whether ghrelin administration influences glucose and insulin levels in obese patients.”
Text continued below"Six obese female patients (31±3.4 year) with a BMI of 36.1±7.7 kg/m2 were studied. Three tests were done: placebo, ghrelin (1 m g/kg, intravenously) and growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH; 1 mcg/kg, iv) plus ghrelin (1 mcg/kg, iv). Blood samples were taken at appropriate intervals for determination of glucose and insulin. Statistical analyses were performed by Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests,” wrote P. Alvarez-Castro and colleagues, Hospital Juan Canalejo.
The results showed, “Glucose (mean peak, mmol/L) level after placebo administration was 4.9±0.2. Glucose level after the administration of ghrelin was 5.1±0.2, not significantly different from the response after placebo (p=NS). Glucose level after the administration of ghrelin plus GHRH was 5.1±0.2, not significantly different from placebo (p=NS).
“Insulin (mean peak, mU/L) level after placebo administration was 16.1±6.1. Insulin level after the administration of ghrelin was 12.3±1.6, not significantly different from placebo (p=NS). Insulin level after the administration of ghrelin plus GHRH was 11.1±2.7, not significantly different from the response after placebo (p=NS).”
The researchers concluded, “In female obese patients, we did not find significant differences in glucose or insulin levels following ghrelin or GHRH plus ghrelin administration.”
Alvarez-Castro and colleagues published their study in Diabetes Obesity & Metabolism (Effect of acute ghrelin administration on glycaemia and insulin levels in obese patients. Diabetes Obes Metab, 2006;8(5):555-560).
For additional information, contact F. Cordido, Hospital Juan Canalejo, Service Endocrinol, Dept. of Endocrinol, Xubias de Arriba 84, La Coruna 15006, Spain.
The publisher’s contact information for the journal Diabetes Obesity & Metabolism is: Blackwell Publishing, 9600 Garsington Rd., Oxford OX4 2DQ, Oxon, England.