Ghrelin increases food intake in obese as well as lean subjects

• Published in: International Journal of Obesity Vol. 29; no. 9; pp. 1130 - 1136
• Main Authors: Druce, M R, Wren, A M, Park, A J, Milton, J E, Patterson, M, Frost, G, Ghatei, M A, Small, C, Bloom, S R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.09.2005; Nature Publishing; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: administration & dosage; Adult; Appetite; Appetite - drug effects; Appetite - physiology; Appetite Stimulants; Appetite Stimulants - administration & dosage; Biological and medical sciences; blood; Body Mass Index; clinical trials; College campuses; Double-Blind Method; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug dosages; drug effects; Eating; Eating - drug effects; Eating behavior; energy intake; Energy Intake - physiology; Epidemiology; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Food; food intake; food records; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Ghrelin; Growth hormones; Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; Hormones; Human Growth Hormone; Human Growth Hormone - blood; human nutrition; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous; Internal Medicine; lean body mass; Leptin; Leptin - blood; Male; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic Diseases; Metabolism; Obesity; Obesity - blood; Obesity - physiopathology; palatability; Peptide Hormones; Peptide Hormones - administration & dosage; Peptide Hormones - blood; physiology; physiopathology; Public Health; somatotropin; Taste; Taste - drug effects; Taste - physiology; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Weight control; ghrelin; appetite; growth hormone secretagogues; food intake; Appetite; Human; Obesity; Feeding behavior; Nutrition; Nutrition disorder; Somatotropin hormone; Metabolic diseases; Increase; Adenohypophyseal hormone; Food intake; Ghrelin; Hormonal regulation; Nutritional status
• ISSN: 0307-0565; 1476-5497
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0803001

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether effects on food intake are seen in obese subjects receiving exogenous administration of ghrelin. DESIGN: Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of intravenous ghrelin at doses 1 pmol/kg/min and 5 pmol/kg/min. SUBJECTS: In all, 12 healthy lean subjects (mean body mass index (BMI) 20.5±0.17 kg/m 2 ) and 12 healthy overweight and obese subjects (mean BMI 31.9±1.02 kg/m 2 ). MEASUREMENTS: Food intake, appetite and palatability of food, ghrelin and other obesity-related hormones, growth hormone. RESULTS: Low-dose infusion of ghrelin increased ad libitum energy intake at a buffet meal in the obese group only (mean increase 36.6±9.4%, P <0.01.) High-dose ghrelin infusion increased energy intake in both groups (mean increase 20.1±10.6% in the lean and 70.1±15.5% in the obese, P <0.01 in both cases.) Ghrelin infusion increased palatability of food in the obese group. CONCLUSION: Ghrelin increases food intake in obese as well as lean subjects. Obese people are sensitive to the appetite-stimulating effects of ghrelin and inhibition of circulating ghrelin may be a useful therapeutic target in the treatment of obesity.