Repeated administration of ghrelin to patients with functional dyspepsia: its effects on food intake and appetite.
BACKGROUND
Ghrelin plays a major role in the regulation of food intake (FI), which makes it a strong candidate for the treatment of anorexia.


OBJECTIVE
We attempted to evaluate the clinical response to repeated ghrelin administration in patients with anorexia caused by functional disorders, such as functional dyspepsia (FD).


METHODS
Subjects included in this study were those who 1) were diagnosed with functional anorexia, including FD and other eating disorders with the exception of anorexia nervosa; 2) were lean (body mass index (BMI)<22 kg/m(2)); and 3) exhibited decreased FI. Subjects received an i.v. infusion of ghrelin (3 microg/kg) for 30 min twice a day (before breakfast and dinner) for 2 weeks. We investigated the effects of ghrelin administration on FI, appetite, hormones, and metabolic parameters.


RESULTS
Six patients with FD were enrolled in this study. Ghrelin administration tended to increase daily FI in comparison with levels before and after completion of treatment, but this difference that was the primary endpoint of this study did not reach statistical significance (P=0.084). Hunger sensation was significantly elevated at the end of drip infusion (P<0.0001). No severe adverse effects were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that ghrelin administration is safe and that this treatment has stimulatory effects on appetite in patients with FD. Further studies are necessary to confirm the efficacy of ghrelin treatment for anorexia-related disorders.
Akamizu
Takashi
T
Ghrelin Research Project, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan. akamizu@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Iwakura
Hiroshi
H
Ariyasu
Hiroyuki
H
Hosoda
Hiroshi
H
Murayama
Toshinori
T
Yokode
Masayuki
M
Teramukai
Satoshi
S
Seno
Hiroshi
H
Chiba
Tsutomu
T
Noma
Shunichi
S
Nakai
Yoshikatsu
Y
Fukunaga
Mikihiko
M
Nakai
Yoshihide
Y
Kangawa
Kenji
K
D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D000855:Anorexia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D001066:Appetite / Q000187:drug effects*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007260:Infusion Pumps; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D054439:Ghrelin; C422650:ghrelin, des-n-octanoyl