Peptide YY (PYY) is increased in elderly patients with femoral neck fractures: a prospective cohort study.
BACKGROUND
Peptide YY (PYY), a gut peptide, has recently been shown to inhibit appetite. The role of this peptide in elderly nutritionally-compromised patients with femoral neck fracture (FNF) has not been investigated. In this study, we investigated the longitudinal pattern of PYY levels during hospital stay and investigated the postprandial PYY response to a standard meal in patients with FNF and matched controls.


METHODS
Fasting plasma concentrations of the PYY were measured on days 1, 4, 7, 14, 21 and 28 or on discharge from the hospital in 17 white patients with FNF. On the second week of stay, 13 patients with FNF consumed a standard breakfast following an overnight fasting. One fasting sample and one 45-minute postmeal sample were collected. A control group was made up of 17 matched healthy elderly patients.


RESULTS
PYY concentrations were increased significantly over the length of hospital stay. Results of the test breakfast suggested a significant and exaggerated post-prandial PYY response, despite a smaller energy intake being consumed.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows PYY concentrations are increased during hospitalization and their post-prandial release exaggerated in this group of vulnerable patients, and suggests a role in the etiology of reduced appetite in this patient group.
Nematy
Mohsen
M
Nutrition and Dietetic Research Group, Hammersmith Hospital Trust, London, Imperial College London, United Kingdom.
Powell
Chris A
CA
Brynes
Audrey E
AE
Pearse
Michael
M
Patterson
Michael
M
Ghatei
Mohammad A
MA
Bloom
Steve R
SR
Frost
Gary S
GS
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001066:Appetite / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D002149:Energy Intake; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005265:Femoral Neck Fractures / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019894:Peptide YY / Q000097:blood*; D019518:Postprandial Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
D019894:Peptide YY