High plasma ghrelin protects from coronary heart disease and Leu72Leu polymorphism of ghrelin gene from cancer in healthy adults during the 19 years follow-up study

• Published in: Peptides (New York, N.Y. : 1980) Vol. 61; pp. 122 - 129
• Main Authors: Laurila, M., Santaniemi, M., Kesäniemi, Y.A., Ukkola, O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.11.2014
• Subjects: Adult; Adults; Amino Acid Substitution; Cancer; Cardiovascular disease; Control equipment; Coronary Disease - blood; Coronary Disease - genetics; Coronary Disease - pathology; Coronary heart disease; Diseases; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Ghrelin; Ghrelin - blood; Ghrelin - genetics; Ghrelin polymorphism; Heart diseases; Humans; Hypertension - blood; Hypertension - genetics; Hypertension - pathology; Male; Middle Aged; Mutation, Missense; Neoplasm Proteins - blood; Neoplasm Proteins - genetics; Neoplasms - blood; Neoplasms - genetics; Neoplasms - pathology; Peptides; Polymorphism; Polymorphism, Genetic; Risk; Cardiovascular disease; Ghrelin polymorphism; Ghrelin; Coronary heart disease; Cancer
• ISSN: 0196-9781; 1873-5169
• DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2014.09.012

•High plasma ghrelin protects from coronary heart disease in healthy adults.•Leu72Leu variation of ghrelin gene prevents cancer events in healthy adults. The aim of our investigation was to find out if ghrelin concentrations or polymorphisms predict the future risk for cardiovascular diseases and cancer in a population-based cohort initiated in 1991 (491 hypertensive and 513 control subjects). Total mortality and hospital events were followed up for 19 years. Fasting total ghrelin concentrations were determined and Arg51Gln, Leu72Met and −501A>C polymorphisms identified. Cox regression analysis was performed. The mean value in the control cohort was 674pg/ml whereas in the hypertensive cohort it was 661pg/ml. The associations found suggest that in the controls the highest ghrelin quartile protected from CHD (coronary heart disease). The results were significant without or with adjustments for age, sex, smoking, systolic blood pressure and LDL cholesterol, BMI, type 2 diabetes or QUICK index. C/C variant of the promoter associated with the prevention of IHD (ischemic heart disease) in the hypertensive group (p<0.05). The controls with the Leu72Leu genotype had less cancer (p<0.05). In conclusion, high plasma ghrelin concentration was related to protection from CHD and Leu72Leu genotype to prevention of cancer in healthy adults during the 19 years follow-up. C/C promoter protects from IHD in the hypertensive subjects.