Serum Ghrelin Levels in Obese Patients: The
Relationship to Serum Leptin Levels and Soluble Leptin Receptors
Levels
M. ROSICKÁ, M. KRŠEK, M.
MATOULEK, Z. JARKOVSKÁ, J. MAREK, V. JUSTOVÁ, Z. LACINOVÁ
1Third Department of Medicine, First Faculty of
Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
Received March 18, 2002
Accepted May 27, 2002
Summary
Ghrelin is a new endogenous ligand for the growth hormone
secretagogue receptor. It activates the release of growth
hormone from the pituitary and it also participates in the
regulation of energy homeostasis. The aim of the study was to
characterize changes in serum ghrelin levels in obese subjects
and their relationship to the serum levels of leptin and soluble
leptin receptor. Eight obese patients (6 women and 2 men) with
body mass index (BMI) 40.313.4 kg.m-2 and eight healthy
controls (5 women and 3 men) with BMI 22.71.3 kg.m-2 were
examined. The ghrelin serum levels (165.058.1 vs. 343.3781.96;
p0.001) and soluble leptin receptor serum levels (7.253.44 vs.
21.804.99; p0.0001) were significantly lower in obese
patients. The leptin serum levels (23.4512.90 vs. 6.412.96;
p0.005) were significantly higher compared to the lean subject
group. In both measured groups the levels of serum leptin
significantly positively correlated with BMI. We proved a
significantly lower serum ghrelin levels in the group of obese
patients in comparison with the control group.
Key
words
Ghrelin • Leptin • Soluble leptin receptor • Neuropeptide
Y • Obesity
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Martina Rosická, M.D., Third Dept. of Internal Medicine, First
Faculty of Medicine and General University Hospital, Charles
University, U nemocnice 2, 128 08, Prague 2, Czech Republic,
e-mail: rosi@email.cz.
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