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Ghrelin response in malnourished African children undergoing nutritional rehabilitation
Author(s) -
Nweneka Chidi Victor,
Sharma Amita,
Darboe Momodou K,
Doherty Conor P,
Cummings David E,
Prentice Andrew M
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.459.2
Subject(s) - ghrelin , medicine , orexigenic , anabolism , malnutrition , endocrinology , rehabilitation , insulin , hormone , physical therapy , receptor , neuropeptide y receptor , neuropeptide
Recovery from severe protein energy malnutrition (PEM) requires a strong anabolic drive. We investigated the response of ghrelin, an orexigenic hormone, in malnourished Gambian children undergoing nutritional rehabilitation. Pre‐ and post‐prandial serum ghrelin levels were measured in undernourished cases (children 1–3y, Weight‐for‐Height Z score, WHZ <−2SD) at days 0, 10 and 30 after starting nutritional rehabilitation, and in controls (children seen at MRC Keneba clinic during the same period, matched for age and sex with WHZ >−2,) at day 0. H . pylori (HP) status was assessed using 13 C‐Urea Breath Test. Post‐prandial day 0 ghrelin levels were significantly different from the pre‐prandial day 0 (baseline) levels in cases and controls (see Figure). Although not statistically significant, the baseline serum ghrelin was higher in malnourished children (2437pg/ml vs . 1978pg/ml, P=0.2), and fell towards control levels with nutritional rehabilitation. Baseline ghrelin was related to age (cases: r = −0.6, P=0.009; controls: r = −0.6, P=0.005), but not to baseline WHZ, Weight‐for‐Age and Height‐for‐Age Z scores, insulin, hGH or CRP levels. Eradication of HP in 3 subjects led to a fall in ghrelin levels from 3027 pg/ml at day 0 to 947pg/ml at day 30 (P=0.001). The data suggest that normal ghrelin response remains intact in malnourished African children and may be stimulated by HP infection. This study was sponsored by MRC Keneba, The Gambia