Ghrelin and leptin levels in young adults with cystic fibrosis: relationship with body fat.
BACKGROUND
Ghrelin and leptin are hormones implicated in energy balance coordination and body weight regulation. There are conflicting data regarding the levels and role of leptin while ghrelin has not been studied in CF. The aim of this study was to investigate fasting serum ghrelin and leptin levels in CF adolescents as compared to healthy controls and analyze their association with body fat.


METHODS
Fourteen CF adolescents having pancreatic insufficiency and twenty healthy adolescents were enrolled in the study. Diabetic patients were excluded. In all participants' height, weight, body mass index (BMI) and body fat % (BF %) were estimated. Ghrelin and leptin levels were determined after an overnight fast.


RESULTS
Weight, BMI and BF% were significantly lower in CF adolescents than those of controls. Fasting leptin levels in CF were significantly higher in CF patients (p=0.030), compared to controls and significantly lower in CF males as compared to CF females (p=0.01). Fasting ghrelin levels were significantly lower in CF males as compared to male controls (p<0.001) and comparable in females.


CONCLUSIONS
As the overall clinical outcome of CF patients is related to the nutritional status and body weight, the role of ghrelin and leptin in these patients needs to be elucidated.
Stylianou
Charilaos
C
4th Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Papageorgiou General Hospital, Ring Road Nea Efkarpia, 56403 Thessaloniki, Greece. charis@med.auth.gr
Galli-Tsinopoulou
Assimina
A
Koliakos
George
G
Fotoulaki
Maria
M
Nousia-Arvanitakis
Sanda
S
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
D015415:Biomarkers; D054439:Ghrelin; D020738:Leptin; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D013006:Growth Hormone