Plasma total and unacylated ghrelin predict 5-year changes in insulin resistance.
Ghrelin is a gastric hormone circulating in acylated (AG) and unacylated (UG) forms, and higher plasma total ghrelin (TG) and UG may be cross-sectionally associated with lower insulin resistance in metabolic syndrome patients. The potential value of ghrelin forms in predicting insulin resistance and its time-related changes in community-based population cohorts remains unknown.



We measured TG, AG and calculated UG (TG-AG) in 716 individuals from the North-East-Italy MoMa study (age: 55 ± 9 years, BMI: 29 ± 5 kg/m(2), M/F:349/367) to test the hypothesis that circulating TG and UG, but not AG are negatively associated with insulin resistance (HOMA). We further hypothesized that baseline TG and UG negatively predict 5-year HOMA changes in a 350-individual subgroup.



Baseline TG and UG were associated negatively with HOMA after adjusting for gender and body mass index (BMI). Baseline gender- and BMI-adjusted TG and UG were also negatively associated with HOMA at 5-year follow-up (n = 350), and changes in TG and UG were negatively associated with changes in HOMA (P < 0.05) after adjustment for anthropometric and metabolic confounders. No statistically significant correlations were observed between AG and baseline or 5-year HOMA.



In a North-East Italy community-based population cohort, plasma TG and UG but not AG are negatively associated with HOMA. TG and UG and their changes also independently predict 5-year HOMA changes. TG and UG are therefore novel potential modulators of insulin resistance and may contribute to predict its time-related changes in humans.
Internal Medicine, Dept of Medical, Surgical and Health Science, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy. Electronic address: barazzon@units.it.
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R
Barazzoni
Internal Medicine, Dept of Medical, Surgical and Health Science, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
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G
Gortan Cappellari
Internal Medicine, Dept of Medical, Surgical and Health Science, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
A
A
Semolic
Internal Medicine, Dept of Medical, Surgical and Health Science, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
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M
Ius
Internal Medicine, Dept of Medical, Surgical and Health Science, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
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L
Mamolo
Dept of Nuclear Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero - Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti, Trieste, Italy.
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F
Dore
Molecular Medicine Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trieste, Italy.
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M
Giacca
Internal Medicine, Dept of Medical, Surgical and Health Science, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
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M
Zanetti
Internal Medicine, Dept of Medical, Surgical and Health Science, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
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P
Vinci
Internal Medicine, Dept of Medical, Surgical and Health Science, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
G
G
Guarnieri
D000215:Acylation; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D054439:Ghrelin; D007328:Insulin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol
Ghrelin; Insulin resistance