title: Increased fasting plasma ghrelin levels during alcohol abstinence.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, KARF Hospital, 1241 Backseokdong, Ilsangu, Goyangsi, Gyeonggido 411-816, South Korea.
authors.forename: Dai-Jin
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Su-Jung
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Bomoon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Tae-Suk
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Sup
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: Won
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hugh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Myrick
authors.forename: Bradley S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: Young Bin
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Yong-Ku
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jaeseung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jeong
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D020738:Leptin; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D006854:Hydrocortisone