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Ghrelin as a possible biomarker and maintaining factor in patients with eating disorders reporting childhood traumatic experiences
Author(s) -
Rossi Eleonora,
Cassioli Emanuele,
Gironi Veronica,
Idrizaj Eglantina,
Garella Rachele,
Squecco Roberta,
Baccari Maria Caterina,
Maggi Mario,
Vignozzi Linda,
Comeglio Paolo,
Ricca Valdo,
Castellini Giovanni
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
european eating disorders review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.511
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1099-0968
pISSN - 1072-4133
DOI - 10.1002/erv.2831
Subject(s) - ghrelin , overeating , binge eating , psychopathology , eating disorders , psychology , anorexia nervosa , body mass index , mediation , medicine , clinical psychology , sexual abuse , endocrinology , hormone , poison control , injury prevention , obesity , environmental health , political science , law
Objective The recent conceptualization of ghrelin as a stress hormone suggested that its chronic alterations may have a role in maintaining overeating behaviors in subjects with eating disorders (EDs) reporting childhood traumatic experiences. The aim of this study was to investigate the alterations of ghrelin levels in patients with EDs, their associations with early trauma, binge and emotional eating, and possible moderation/mediation models. Method Sixty‐four patients with EDs and 42 healthy controls (HCs) had their plasma ghrelin levels measured and completed questionnaires evaluating general and ED‐specific psychopathology, emotional eating, and childhood traumatic experiences. Results Participants with anorexia nervosa had higher ghrelin levels than HCs in body mass index (BMI)‐adjusted comparisons. Moreover, patients reporting a history of childhood trauma had higher ghrelin levels. Childhood sexual abuse (CSA), BMI, and self‐induced vomiting were independent predictors of ghrelin levels. Moderation analyses showed that ghrelin levels were associated with binge and emotional eating only for higher levels of childhood trauma. Elevated ghrelin was a significant mediator for the association of CSA with binge eating. Conclusions These results support the hypothesis that chronic alterations in ghrelin levels following childhood traumatic experiences could represent a neurobiological maintaining factor of pathological overeating behaviors in EDs.