Low plasma ghrelin concentration is an indicator of the metabolic syndrome

BACKGROUND. Low ghrelin concentration has been associated with several features of metabolic syndrome (MS), but the relationship between ghrelin concentration and MS as a cluster of metabolic aberrations has not yet been studied. AIMS OF THE STUDY. To analyse whether ghrelin concentration is associated with MS. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS. Fasting plasma ghrelin concentrations of the population-based cohort of 1037 middle-aged men and women were analysed using a commercial radioimmunoassay kit (Phoenix Peptide). MS was determined using the new International Diabetes Federation criteria. RESULTS. The prevalence of MS was 37.2%. The ghrelin concentrations were decreased in subjects with MS (635 pg/mL) compared to those without MS (687 pg/mL) (P=0.001). Ghrelin levels decreased with an increase in the number of metabolic abnormalities. Low ghrelin was a statistically significant predictor of MS in logistic regression analysis (P=0.005) so that the subjects in the 1st ghrelin quartile were at higher risk of having MS compared to the subjects in the 4th quartile (OR=1.82, 95% CI: 1.27-2.60, P=0.001). This association remained statistically significant after adjustment for age and sex (OR= 1.76, 95% CI: 1.24-2.55, P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS. Metabolic syndrome is associated with low ghrelin levels suggesting a relationship of ghrelin in the metabolic disturbances of MS.