Circulating ghrelin/obestatin ratio in subjects with Helicobacter pylori infection

Gao, Xin-Yuan; Kuang, Hong-Yu; Liu, Xiao-Min; Duan, Peng; Yang, Yi; Ma, Zhi-Bin

doi:10.1016/j.nut.2008.11.002

« Previous Next »Nutrition
Volume 25, Issue 5 , Pages 506-511, May 2009

Circulating ghrelin/obestatin ratio in subjects with Helicobacter pylori infection

Xin-Yuan Gao, M.D.
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Clinical Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
Hong-Yu Kuang, M.D.
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Clinical Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Co-corresponding authors. Tel./fax: +86-451-5364-5060
Xiao-Min Liu, M.M.
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Clinical Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Co-corresponding authors. Tel./fax: +86-451-5364-5060
Peng Duan, M.M.
- Department of Endocrinology, The Third Hospital of NanChang, NanChang, China
Yi Yang, M.D.
- Department of Pathology, The First Clinical Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
Zhi-Bin Ma, M.M.
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Clinical Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China

Received 19 August 2008; accepted 4 November 2008. published online 09 January 2009.

Abstract

Objective

Ghrelin is a peptide hormone involved in human energy homeostasis. Obestatin is a recently discovered active peptide derived from preproghrelin. It seemed that obestatin was a physiologic opponent of ghrelin. Helicobacter pylori infection may be associated with appetite and nutrition. We compared the plasma ghrelin/obestatin ratio in H. pylori–positive and -negative groups.

Methods

People undergoing an annual health checkup were included. Helicobacter pylori status was based on serologic and carbon-13 urea breath findings. Fifty adults with H. pylori infection and 50 adults matched by age and body mass index without H. pylori infection were enrolled in this study. Plasma ghrelin and obestatin levels were measured by radioimmunoassay.

Results

Ghrelin concentrations and ghrelin/obestatin ratios were lower in the H. pylori–positive group than in the H. pylori–negative group. There was no significant difference in circulating obestatin between those with and without H. pylori infection. In all subjects, the ghrelin/obestatin ratio was negatively correlated with body mass index, the homeostasis model of assessment for insulin resistance, and serum levels of triacylglycerol. There was a positive correlation between circulating obestatin and ghrelin levels.