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Regulation of ghrelin is related to estimated insulin sensitivity in obese children

K Krohn1, C Boczan, B Otto

  • 1Division of Metabolic Diseases and Nutritional Medicine, Dr von Hauner Children's Hospital, University of Munich, Germany.

International Journal of Obesity (2005)
|June 28, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Weight loss in obese children alters ghrelin levels, which are linked to improved insulin sensitivity. Ghrelin increases significantly in those with higher insulin sensitivity post-weight loss.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Metabolic Health
  • Obesity Research

Background:

  • Ghrelin, a hormone regulating appetite, plays a role in metabolic processes.
  • Understanding ghrelin's role in pediatric obesity is crucial for metabolic health interventions.
  • Changes in ghrelin during weight loss may impact glucose and insulin metabolism in children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the association between ghrelin levels and changes during weight loss with glucose and insulin metabolism in obese children.
  • To explore the relationship between ghrelin dynamics and insulin sensitivity.

Main Methods:

  • Oral glucose tolerance tests were conducted before and after a 6-week diet-induced weight loss program.
  • Plasma ghrelin, insulin, and glucose levels were measured in 23 obese children and 11 normal-weight controls.
  • Correlation and multivariate analyses assessed the relationship between ghrelin changes and metabolic parameters, including whole-body insulin sensitivity index (WBISI).

Main Results:

  • Weight loss led to a significant 26% increase in ghrelin area under the curve (AUC) in obese children.
  • Increased ghrelin AUC positively correlated with improved insulin sensitivity (WBISI), an independent predictor.
  • Ghrelin levels normalized to control levels in children with low WBISI, but increased markedly above controls in those with high WBISI.

Conclusions:

  • Ghrelin level changes during weight loss are independently associated with improvements in glucose and insulin metabolism in obese children.
  • The elevation of plasma ghrelin above control levels post-weight loss is specific to obese children with higher baseline insulin sensitivity.
Abstract

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