Repeated administration of ghrelin to patients with functional dyspepsia: its effects on food intake and appetite

• Published in: European journal of endocrinology Vol. 158; no. 4; pp. 491 - 498
• Main Authors: Akamizu, Takashi, Iwakura, Hiroshi, Ariyasu, Hiroyuki, Hosoda, Hiroshi, Murayama, Toshinori, Yokode, Masayuki, Teramukai, Satoshi, Seno, Hiroshi, Chiba, Tsutomu, Noma, Shunichi, Nakai, Yoshikatsu, Fukunaga, Mikihiko, Nakai, Yoshihide, Kangawa, Kenji, FD Clinical Study Team
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Colchester BioScientifica 01.04.2008; Portland Press
• Subjects: Adult; Algorithms; Anorexia - drug therapy; Anorexia - etiology; Appetite - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Body Composition - drug effects; Body Mass Index; Clinical Studies; Drug Administration Schedule; Dyspepsia - blood; Dyspepsia - complications; Dyspepsia - drug therapy; Eating - drug effects; Endocrinopathies; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Ghrelin - administration & dosage; Ghrelin - adverse effects; Ghrelin - blood; Ghrelin - pharmacology; Humans; Infusion Pumps; Male; Medical sciences; Other diseases. Semiology; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Treatment Outcome; Vertebrates: endocrinology; Appetite; Human; Health food; Food intake; Dyspepsia; Ghrelin; Digestive diseases; Patient; Endocrinology; Appetite stimulant
• ISSN: 0804-4643; 1479-683X
• DOI: 10.1530/EJE-07-0768

BackgroundGhrelin plays a major role in the regulation of food intake (FI), which makes it a strong candidate for the treatment of anorexia.ObjectiveWe attempted to evaluate the clinical response to repeated ghrelin administration in patients with anorexia caused by functional disorders, such as functional dyspepsia (FD).Subjects and methodsSubjects included in this study were those who 1) were diagnosed with functional anorexia, including FD and other eating disorders with the exception of anorexia nervosa; 2) were lean (body mass index (BMI)<22 kg/m2); and 3) exhibited decreased FI. Subjects received an i.v. infusion of ghrelin (3 μg/kg) for 30 min twice a day (before breakfast and dinner) for 2 weeks. We investigated the effects of ghrelin administration on FI, appetite, hormones, and metabolic parameters.ResultsSix patients with FD were enrolled in this study. Ghrelin administration tended to increase daily FI in comparison with levels before and after completion of treatment, but this difference that was the primary endpoint of this study did not reach statistical significance (P=0.084). Hunger sensation was significantly elevated at the end of drip infusion (P<0.0001). No severe adverse effects were observed.ConclusionsThese results suggest that ghrelin administration is safe and that this treatment has stimulatory effects on appetite in patients with FD. Further studies are necessary to confirm the efficacy of ghrelin treatment for anorexia-related disorders.