Association between des-acyl ghrelin at fasting and predictive index of muscle derangement, metabolic markers and eating disorders: a cross-sectional study in overweight and obese adults

• Published in: Nutritional neuroscience Vol. 25; no. 2; pp. 336 - 342
• Main Authors: Perna, Simone, Spadaccini, Daniele, Gasparri, Clara, Peroni, Gabriella, Infantino, Vittoria, Iannello, Giancarlo, Riva, Antonella, Petrangolini, Giovanna, Alalwan, Tariq A., Al-Thawadi, Salwa, Rondanelli, Mariangela
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 01.02.2022
• Subjects: Adult; body composition; Cross-Sectional Studies; des-acyl ghrelin; energy expenditure; Fasting; Feeding and Eating Disorders; Female; Ghrelin; Humans; leptin; Male; muscle; muscle atrophy; Muscles; Obesity - complications; Overweight - complications; satiety; satiety; body composition; Ghrelin; muscle; muscle atrophy; energy expenditure; des-acyl ghrelin; leptin
• ISSN: 1028-415X; 1476-8305; 1476-8305
• DOI: 10.1080/1028415X.2020.1752997

Background: This study aimed to analyse the impact of des-acyl and acyl ghrelin (AG) on a wide range of muscular and metabolic markers and in order to discover the possible relationships and interactions of des-acylated ghrelin (DAG) on eating disorders. Materials & Methods: A total of 88 subjects (64 women and 24 men, with a mean age of 43 years and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 30.20 ± 3.27 kg/m 2 ) were enrolled in the cross-sectional study. Results: The findings showed that for each unit of increase of free fat mass index (FFMI), levels of DAG decreased by −41.11 pg/mL (p < 0.05). Moreover, similar associations with DAG were found for insulin (β = −30.67; p < 0.001), leptin (β = −0.64; p < 0.05), body weight (β = −14.36; p < 0.001), and free fat mass (FFM) (β = −30.67; p < 0.001). In addition, associations were found between DAG and resting energy expenditure (REE) (β = −0.84; p = 0.05) and the binge eating scale (BES) in which a unit increase of the BES score Q3 (depression) correlated with a decrease of DAG levels (β = −9.98; p = 0.08). Further, a unit increase of AG/DAG ratio correspond with an increase in body weight (β = 12.20; p < 0.05), BMI (β = 4.70; p < 0.05) and fat mass (β = 7.30; p < 0.05). However, the AG/DAG ratio was not associated with FFMI (β = 2.61; p = 0.165) and FFML/BMI (β = −0,064; p = 0.625). Conclusion: This study suggests that higher levels of DAG at fasting are indices of poor muscle mass, insulin resistance and depression.