Ghrelin and Eating Disturbances in Psychiatric Disorders

Abstract

Introduction: Appetite and eating behavior are frequently altered in psychiatric patients. The newly discovered gut-derived neuropeptide ghrelin simulates hunger and weight gain. Therefore, it might be involved in appetite regulation during psychiatric disorders. Methods: In 83 depressed, 42 schizophrenic patients and 46 healthy controls plasma ghrelin levels were measured, and the psychometric scores on the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ) were assessed. Results: Neither ghrelin levels nor TFEQ scores differed between both patient groups and healthy subjects. However, TFEQ subscale 2 (disinhibition) was predicted by BMI-corrected ghrelin levels, while age, sex, smoking, and medication did not show any influence. Discussion: Ghrelin correlates with factors of eating behavior, specifically with subscale 2 on the TFEQ. Ghrelin might be involved in appetite-regulating pathways during psychiatric disorders. However, its influence is not likely to be displayed as a difference between diagnostic groups. Rather, ghrelin is associated with eating behavior in psychiatric patients meaning susceptibility to eating problems.

Mood disorders: A potential link between ghrelin and leptin on human body?

“…In human studies too contrasting findings were reported. Some researches did not find any differences in ghrelin levels between patients with major depression and controls [62,78,79] while other researchers suggested that plasma ghrelin levels as well as preproghrelin mRNA levels are elevated in conditions of stress [77,80] . Ozsoy et al [81] , for example, found higher levels in serum ghrelin levels in depressive patients, than in controls and they also found that high serum ghrelin levels were normalized by treatment.…”

“…Acylation is required for ghrelin to activate its receptor, the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR). In particular, it promotes food intake and adiposity sending a peripheral signal to the hypothalamus through the neuropeptide Y and agoutirelated protein [62] . Even though AG has a major role in energy balance it also contributes in other biological functions too, such as the regulation of insulin secretion, the regulation of glucose metabolism and influences the pituitary-gonadal axis [63] .…”

“…Rouach et al [80] High in patients with binge-eating disorders Schanze et al [62] No difference Kluge et al [78] No difference Barim et al [68] Low Matsuo et al [79] No difference Ishitobi et al [84] High in non-responders with MDD Ozsoy et al [81] High Treatment and ghrelin levels Schmid et al [83] Decrease with mirtazapine MDD: Major depressive disorder.…”

Impact of 6-Month Exercise Program on Weight Status and Associated Biomarkers in Mild Cognitive Impairment

“…Consistent with these structural findings, elevated leptin levels are associated with reduced cognitive task performance, specifically frontal systems cognitive function [26]. Finally, the orexigenic hormone, ghrelin, is associated with increased disinhibition [31] and negatively correlated with several cognitive domains, including verbal memory, working memory, and naming [25]. Each of these biomarkers also has a demonstrated association with inflammation [32][33][34], and inflammation, in turn, has been linked to dementia including AD [33].…”

Examining Nesfatin-1 and Ghrelin Hormone in Severity of Depression

“…Yapılan çalışmalarda ghrelinin nöroprotektiyonda önemli koruyucu etkisi olduğu bildirilmiştir (25). Literatürde depresif hastalarda düşük (26), yüksek (27) veya değişmeyen ghrelin seviyeleri bildirilmiştir (28). Depresyon hastalarında birbirinden farklı sonuçların bulunması depresyonda ghrelinin rolü ile ilgili bazı tartışmalara neden olmaktadır.…”