Effect of oral glucose administration on ghrelin levels in obese children.
OBJECTIVE
Coexpression of GH secretagogue receptor and ghrelin in the pancreas suggests that this peptide is involved in glucose metabolism. Previous reports in adult humans have demonstrated that plasma ghrelin levels decrease after oral glucose administration. However, no data are available in children. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the response of plasma ghrelin levels in obese children after oral glucose administration.


METHODS
Twenty-eight obese children ranging from Tanner I to Tanner V were studied. All subjects were given 0.75 g/kg (maximum 75 g) glucose solution after overnight fasting. Ghrelin, insulin, glucose and IGF-binding-protein-1 were determined at 0, 30, 60 and 120 min of the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).


RESULTS
Basal plasma ghrelin levels were significantly lower than in the respective control groups. These levels decreased significantly during OGTT in obese children, reaching a nadir of 28+/-9% at 60 min in parallel with the maximum increase in glucose levels and previous to maximum insulin levels.


CONCLUSIONS
The rapid fall in plasma ghrelin concentration in obese children after glucose load suggests a mechanism for the control of appetite after food intake.
Soriano-Guillén
Leandro
L
Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Laboratory of Research, Universidad Autónoma, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Avda. Menéndez Pelayo 65, E-28009 Madrid, Spain.
Barrios
Vicente
V
Martos
Gabriel
G
Chowen
Julie A
JA
Campos-Barros
Angel
A
Argente
Jesús
J
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D001066:Appetite / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism*; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000097:blood*
D054439:Ghrelin; D007328:Insulin; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D005947:Glucose