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A RAPID Method for Blood Processing to Increase the Yield of Plasma Peptide Levels in Human Blood
Published on: April 28, 2016
Ghrelin plasma levels are not altered in major depression
Michael Kluge1, Petra Schussler, Dagmar Schmid
1Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany. kluge@mpipsykl.mpg.de
Neuropsychobiology
|June 13, 2009
Summary
Major depression patients showed no difference in ghrelin levels compared to healthy individuals. This study investigated the orexigenic hormone ghrelin in major depressive disorder.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Major depression is associated with altered endocrine function.
- Ghrelin, an orexigenic hormone, interacts with endocrine axes and its levels may change with depression.
- Previous observations suggest ghrelin levels decrease with psychopathological improvement in depressed patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate ghrelin secretion patterns in patients with major depression compared to healthy controls.
- To test the hypothesis that ghrelin levels are higher in patients with major depression.
Main Methods:
- Nocturnal secretion patterns of ghrelin were measured in 20 patients with major depression and 20 healthy subjects.
- Participants were stratified by sex, and age-matched controls were used.
- The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale assessed depression severity.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in ghrelin plasma levels were found between depressed patients and healthy subjects at any time point, irrespective of sex.
- Area under the curve for ghrelin levels was comparable between the depressed and healthy groups for both females and males.
Conclusions:
- This study is the first to compare ghrelin secretion patterns in major depression patients and healthy controls.
- Contrary to the hypothesis, no relevant differences in ghrelin levels were observed between the groups.
- The findings suggest ghrelin levels may not be a reliable biomarker for major depression in this context.
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