Low plasma ghrelin concentration is an indicator of the metabolic syndrome

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Low ghrelin concentration has been associated with several features of metabolic syndrome (MS), but the relationship between ghrelin concentration and MS as a cluster of metabolic aberrations has not yet been studied. AIMS OF THE STUDY: To analyse whether ghrelin concentration is associated with MS. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Fasting plasma ghrelin concentrations of the population-based cohort of 1037 middle-aged men and women were analysed using a commercial radioimmunoassay kit (Phoenix Peptide). MS was determined using the new International Diabetes Federation criteria. RESULTS: The prevalence of MS was 37.2%. The ghrelin concentrations were decreased in subjects with MS (635 pg/mL) compared to those without MS (687 pg/mL) (P=0.001). Ghrelin levels decreased with an increase in the number of metabolic abnormalities. Low ghrelin was a statistically significant predictor of MS in logistic regression analysis (P=0.005) so that the subjects in the 1st ghrelin quartile were at higher risk of having MS compared to the subjects in the 4th quartile (OR=1.82, 95% CI: 1.27-2.60, P=0.001). This association remained statistically significant after adjustment for age and sex (OR=1.76, 95% CI: 1.24-2.55, P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Metabolic syndrome is associated with low ghrelin levels suggesting a relationship of ghrelin in the metabolic disturbances of MS.