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Subcutaneous administration of ghrelin stimulates energy intake in healthy lean human volunteers

International Journal of Obesity volume 30, pages 293–296 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Background:

The gastric hormone ghrelin appears a useful agent to stimulate food intake in people with anorexia of illness. The loss of ghrelin's acyl group renders it inactive, thus it has been thought that subcutaneous administration may be problematic.

Objective:

To investigate whether human subjects are sensitive to the effects of ghrelin administered by single subcutaneous injection.

Study design:

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Subjects:

Sixteen healthy lean volunteers (eight men and eight women).

Protocol:

Fasted subjects received subcutaneous injections of ghrelin (3.6 nmol/kg) or saline. After 30 min, a buffet breakfast was served.

Results:

Ghrelin injection increased energy intake by 27% (ghrelin 5076±691 kJ versus saline 4230±607 kJ, P=0.04). Ghrelin appeared to enhance the perceived palatability of the food offered (palatability score: ghrelin 81.1±3.6 versus saline 70.0±4.4; P=0.03).

Conclusions:

These results suggest that subcutaneous ghrelin is effective at stimulating energy intake and improving palatability and may be of direct use in the treatment of appetite loss.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Professor Malcolm Allison, Dr Mandy Donaldson, the Sir John McMichael Centre and the volunteers who participated in the study. We also thank the MRC and Wellcome Trust for support. MD and NN are funded by Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Training Fellowships, MP is funded by BBSRC and MM by a Gulbenkian Foundation Grant.

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Author notes

  1. M R Druce and N M Neary: These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Metabolic Medicine, Imperial College, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK

    M R Druce, N M Neary, C J Small, J Milton, M Monteiro, M Patterson, M A Ghatei & S R Bloom

Authors
  1. M R Druce
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  2. N M Neary
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  3. C J Small
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  4. J Milton
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  7. M A Ghatei
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  8. S R Bloom
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S R Bloom.

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Druce, M., Neary, N., Small, C. et al. Subcutaneous administration of ghrelin stimulates energy intake in healthy lean human volunteers. Int J Obes 30, 293–296 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803158

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