Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026

A RAPID Method for Blood Processing to Increase the Yield of Plasma Peptide Levels in Human Blood
Published on: April 28, 2016
Are plasma ghrelin and PYY concentrations associated with obesity-related depression?
Magdalena Olszanecka-Glinianowicz1, Piotr Kocełak, Tomasz Wikarek
1Health Promotion and Obesity Management Unit, Department of Pathophysiology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland. magols@esculap.pl
Introduction:
Recent experimental studies have revealed that increased ghrelin levels protect against depressive symptoms of chronic stress in rats. Moreover it was shown that neuropeptide Y (NPY) has an anxiolytic-like effect mediated through both Y1 and Y5 receptors. On the other hand, peptide YY inhibits, while ghrelin stimulates, the release of NPY. The aim of this study was to assess the association between plasma concentrations of ghrelin and PYY and the level of depression in obese women.
Material And Methods:
In forty-five obese women (55 +/- 7 years old) without concomitant diseases, body composition was estimated by bioimpedance method, in addition to anthropometric measurements. Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) was used for the evaluation of depression levels. Plasma concentrations of ghrelin and PYY were measured in collected blood samples.
Results:
23 (55.1%) women had severe (22.0 +/- 5.2 pts) and 10 (22.2%) had mild (12.1 +/- 1.9 pts) levels of depression. Obese women with concomitant depression were of similar age and had comparable body mass, BMI, and body composition as those without depression. In addition, there were no differences in plasma ghrelin and PYY levels between the study subgroups. No correlation between BDI and plasma concentrations of ghrelin or PYY was found.
Conclusions:
Depression in obese women does not seem to be related to the plasma levels of ghrelin and PYY.
Related Concept Videos
Regulation of Food Intake
Depression: Overview
Hormonal Regulation
Obesity
G-protein Coupled Receptors
Hypoglycemia and Glucagon

