Low serum levels of ghrelin are associated with gallstone disease.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the role of ghrelin in gallstone disease.


METHODS
We carried out a cross-sectional study in 150 subjects, 38 with gallstones (cases) and 112 controls. We also did a real-time PCR-RT study in twenty gallbladder samples each. Body mass index (BMI), serum insulin, ghrelin, and serum lipids were measured. Logistic regression analyses (univariate and multivariate) were conducted to estimate the probability of gallstone disease associated with serum ghrelin concentrations.


RESULTS
Cases were statistically different from controls in gender distribution (P = 0.01), age (53 vs 44 yr, P = 0.002), BMI (28 vs 25; P = 0.004), and glucose (5.26 vs 4.98 mmol/L; P = 0.05). The prevalence of ghrelin serum levels above the third tercile was lower in subjects without metabolic syndrome (P < 0.05). In a multivariate model, we found a protective effect, when ghrelin values were higher than the median value (OR = 0.27, 95%CI 0.09-0.82, P = 0.02). Twenty (20%) gallbladder specimens expressed ghrelin mRNA.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum ghrelin concentrations are associated with a protective effect of GD.
Mendez-Sanchez
Nahum
N
Liver Unit, Biomedical Research Department, Medica Sur Clinic and Foundation, Mexico City, Mexico. nmendez@medicasur.org.mx
Ponciano-Rodriguez
Guadalupe
G
Bermejo-Martinez
Luisa
L
Villa
Antonio-R
AR
Chavez-Tapia
Norberto-C
NC
Zamora-Valdes
Daniel
D
Pichardo-Bahena
Raul
R
Barredo-Prieto
Blanca
B
Uribe-Ramos
Martha-H
MH
Ramos
Martha-H
MH
Baptista-Gonzalez
Hector A
HA
Uribe
Misael
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000737:chemistry / Q000503:physiopathology*; D042882:Gallstones / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D054439:Ghrelin; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D054439:Ghrelin; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D012333:RNA, Messenger