1. Low serum levels of ghrelin are associated with gallstone disease.
- Author
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Mendez-Sanchez N, Ponciano-Rodriguez G, Bermejo-Martinez L, Villa AR, Chavez-Tapia NC, Zamora-Valdes D, Pichardo-Bahena R, Barredo-Prieto B, Uribe-Ramos MH, Ramos MH, Baptista-Gonzalez HA, and Uribe M
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Body Mass Index, Case-Control Studies, Child, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Gallbladder chemistry, Gallstones prevention & control, Ghrelin, Humans, Insulin blood, Lipids blood, Male, Middle Aged, Peptide Hormones analysis, Peptide Hormones genetics, Peptide Hormones physiology, RNA, Messenger analysis, Regression Analysis, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, Gallbladder physiopathology, Gallstones blood, Gallstones physiopathology, Peptide Hormones blood
- Abstract
Aim: To explore the role of ghrelin in gallstone disease., Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study in 150 subjects, 38 with gallstones (cases) and 112 controls. We also did a real-time PCR-RT study in twenty gallbladder samples each. Body mass index (BMI), serum insulin, ghrelin, and serum lipids were measured. Logistic regression analyses (univariate and multivariate) were conducted to estimate the probability of gallstone disease associated with serum ghrelin concentrations., Results: Cases were statistically different from controls in gender distribution (P = 0.01), age (53 vs 44 yr, P = 0.002), BMI (28 vs 25; P = 0.004), and glucose (5.26 vs 4.98 mmol/L; P = 0.05). The prevalence of ghrelin serum levels above the third tercile was lower in subjects without metabolic syndrome (P < 0.05). In a multivariate model, we found a protective effect, when ghrelin values were higher than the median value (OR = 0.27, 95%CI 0.09-0.82, P = 0.02). Twenty (20%) gallbladder specimens expressed ghrelin mRNA., Conclusion: Serum ghrelin concentrations are associated with a protective effect of GD.
- Published
- 2006
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