Altered postprandial glucose, insulin, leptin, and ghrelin in liver cirrhosis: correlations with energy intake and resting energy expenditure.
BACKGROUND
Liver cirrhosis is associated with reduced energy intake and increased resting energy expenditure.


OBJECTIVE
We aimed to investigate the possible role of glucose, insulin, leptin, and ghrelin in the pathogenesis of these alterations.


METHODS
Nutritional status, energy intake, resting energy expenditure, and fasting glucose, insulin, and leptin were assessed in 31 patients with cirrhosis. Postprandial glucose, insulin, C-peptide, leptin, and ghrelin responses were studied in a subgroup of patients after a standard meal. Ten healthy subjects served as controls.


RESULTS
Patients with cirrhosis had a lower energy intake (P < 0.05), higher resting energy expenditure (P < 0.05), higher fasting leptin (P < 0.05), and higher insulin resistance (P < 0.001) than did the healthy control subjects. In the patients with cirrhosis, fasting leptin was negatively correlated with resting energy expenditure (r = -0.38, P < 0.05) but not with energy intake. In control subjects, leptin was negatively correlated with energy intake (r = -0.72, P < 0.05) but not with resting energy expenditure. The patients with cirrhosis had higher postprandial glucose (P < 0.001) and lower ghrelin (P < 0.05) concentrations at 4 h postprandially than did the control subjects. The increase in ghrelin from its minimal postmeal value to 4 h postmeal was negatively correlated (r = -0.66, P = 0.014) with weight loss in the patients with cirrhosis. Energy intake was negatively correlated (r = -0.42, P < 0.01) with the postprandial increase in glucose.


CONCLUSIONS
In cirrhosis, altered postprandial glucose and ghrelin are associated with reduced energy intake and weight loss, respectively, and the effects of leptin on energy intake and expenditure seem to be altered. Insulin resistance might be involved in these altered postprandial responses.
Kalaitzakis
Evangelos
E
Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. evangelos.kalaitzakis@vgregion.se
Bosaeus
Ingvar
I
Ohman
Lena
L
Björnsson
Einar
E
D001481:Basal Metabolism; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002153:Calorimetry, Indirect; D004435:Eating; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D019518:Postprandial Period
D001786:Blood Glucose; D054439:Ghrelin; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D036361:Peptide Hormones