Plasma Ghrelin Levels in Obese Adults: The Relationship to Obesity Indices

Yang, Jun Won; Park, Jung In; Kim, Sun Young; Kim, Jae Cheol; Kim, Ki Jin; Lee, Dae Yeol

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Ghrelin is a new gut-brain peptide that has somatotropic, orexigenic and adipogenic effects. The aim of the study was to examine the concentration of plasma ghrelin in obese adults, and evaluate the relationship between the plasma ghrelin levels and measured parameters in obese adults.
METHODS
In this study, a total of 116 adults(male: 28, female: 76) was divided into two groups by their body mass index(BMI): obese(BMI >25, n=75) and control(BMI <25, n=41) groups. All subjects were evaluated according to their age, height, body weight, WHR, skinfold thickness, serum total cholesterol, LDL and HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, insulin and plasma ghrelin levels.
RESULTS
Among anthropometric data, height, weight, BMI, WHR, percent body fat, and skinfold thickness were higher in obese group than that of control group. Serum total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglyceride(TG), glucose and insulin levels in obese group were significantly higher, compared to the control group. However, plasma ghrelin concentration in obese group is lower than that of control group. The plasma ghrelin concentration was negatively associated with BMI, subscapular skinfold thickness, WHR, cholesterol, triglyceride and insulin in total subjects including control and obese subjects. However, only height, weight and triceps skinfold thickness had significant relationships with plasma grhrelin levels in obese subjects.
CONCLUSION
This study showed that obese adults had low plasma ghrelin concentration. This finding may explain the regulation of feed behavior to maintain energy homeostasis in human obesity. Further studies are needed to disclose the exact role of ghrelin in obesity.