title: Reduced serum acylated ghrelin levels in patients with hyperthyroidism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent studies have revealed that circulating ghrelin levels seem to play a role in energy homeostasis. The effect of hyperthyroidism on ghrelin levels is not fully known.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum levels of ghrelin and its relationship with insulin resistance were evaluated in 48 patients with hyperthyroidism and 43 euthyroid healthy controls. Thyroid hormones, insulin, glucose, ghrelin levels and lipid parameters were measured in all subjects. Insulin sensitivity was determined using the homeostasis model assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum ghrelin levels were significantly decreased in hyperthyroid patients than in controls (32.5 +/- 23.3 vs. 54.1 +/- 35.5 pg/ml, p < 0.001). Circulating ghrelin levels significantly correlated with age (r = -0.26, p = 0.01), fasting glucose (r = -0.21, p = 0.01), free triiodothyronine (r = -0.18, p = 0.04), free thyroxine (r = -0.23, p = 0.02) and thyroid stimulating hormone (r = 0.21, p = 0.04), but not with blood pressure, body mass index, lipid parameters, insulin and homeostasis model assessment (p > 0.05). Multiple regression analysis revealed glucose level to be the most important predictor of circulating ghrelin level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that hyperthyroidism has effect on serum ghrelin levels. Further studies are needed for the exact mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Gazi Medical University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. alevaltinova@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Alev E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Altinova
authors.forename: Füsun B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Törüner
authors.forename: Müjde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aktürk
authors.forename: Sehri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elbeğ
authors.forename: Ilhan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yetkin
authors.forename: Nuri
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cakir
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arslan
mesh_terms: D000215:Acylation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000097:blood*; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D054439:Ghrelin; D008055:Lipids; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D002784:Cholesterol