Increased fasting plasma ghrelin levels during alcohol abstinence.
OBJECTIVE
Ghrelin is a peptide hormone that antagonizes the action of leptin and is thereby thought to regulate feeding behaviour. The actions of ghrelin and leptin appear to be mediated by the neuropeptide Y (NPY) and Agouti-related protein (AGRP) system. Recent studies have suggested that leptin and NPY play significant roles in the pathophysiology of alcoholism. The aim of this study was to determine whether ghrelin is associated with the state and duration of abstinence in individuals with alcohol dependence.


METHODS
Fasting plasma ghrelin levels were compared between 47 individuals with chronic alcoholism during a period of abstinence and 50 control subjects.


RESULTS
Fasting plasma ghrelin levels were higher in alcohol abstainers than those in controls. Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between ghrelin levels and the duration of abstinence. In addition, daily alcohol intake prior to abstinence was inversely related to ghrelin levels.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that ghrelin plays a role in the pathogenesis of alcohol dependence, particularly during the abstinence period, in individuals with chronic alcoholism.
Kim
Dai-Jin
DJ
Department of Psychiatry, KARF Hospital, 1241 Backseokdong, Ilsangu, Goyangsi, Gyeonggido 411-816, South Korea.
Yoon
Su-Jung
SJ
Choi
Bomoon
B
Kim
Tae-Suk
TS
Woo
Young Sup
YS
Kim
Won
W
Myrick
Hugh
H
Peterson
Bradley S
BS
Choi
Young Bin
YB
Kim
Yong-Ku
YK
Jeong
Jaeseung
J
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood*; D054439:Ghrelin; D006801:Humans; D006815:Hunger; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007723:Korea; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D013695:Temperance; D013997:Time Factors
D054439:Ghrelin; D020738:Leptin; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D006854:Hydrocortisone