This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Foster-Schubert, K. E. Articles by Cummings, D. E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Foster-Schubert, K. E. Articles by Cummings, D. E. Related Collections Obesity

Human Plasma Ghrelin Levels Increase during a One-Year Exercise Program

Department of Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition, University of Washington School of Medicine, and Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System (K.E.F.-S., R.S.F., D.E.C.), Seattle, Washington 98195; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Cancer Prevention Research Program (A.M., K.B.R., Y.Y., S.S.T.), Seattle, Washington 98109-1024; Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine (A.M., K.B.R., S.S.T.), Seattle, Washington 98195; Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine (R.S.S.), Denver, Colorado 80262; and Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington (Y.Y.), Seattle, Washington 98195

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. David E. Cummings, University of Washington, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, 1660 South Columbian Way, S-111-Endo, Seattle, Washington 98108. E-mail: davidec{at}u.washington.edu.

Weight loss resulting from decreased caloric intake raises levels of the orexigenic hormone, ghrelin. Because ingested nutrients suppress ghrelin, increased ghrelin levels in hypophagic weight loss may result from decreased inhibitory input by ingested food, rather than from lost weight. We assessed whether ghrelin levels increase in response to exercise-induced weight loss without decreased caloric intake. We randomized 173 sedentary, overweight, postmenopausal women to an aerobic exercise intervention or stretching control group. At baseline, 3 months, and 12 months, we measured body weight and composition, food intake, cardiopulmonary fitness (maximal oxygen consumption), leptin, insulin, and ghrelin. Complete data were available for 168 women (97%) at 12 months. Exercisers lost 1.4 ± 0.4 kg (P < 0.05 compared with baseline; P = 0.01 compared with stretchers) and manifested a significant, progressive increase in ghrelin levels, whereas neither measure changed among stretchers. Ghrelin increased 18% in exercisers who lost more than 3 kg (P < 0.001). There was no change in caloric intake in either group and no effect on ghrelin of exercise per se independent of its impact on body weight. In summary, ghrelin levels increase with weight loss achieved without reduced food intake, consistent with a role for ghrelin in the adaptive response constraining weight loss and, thus, in long-term body weight regulation.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Paulo Araujo, P. Lourenco, F. Rocha-Goncalves, A. Ferreira, and P. Bettencourt Adiponectin is increased in cardiac cachexia irrespective of body mass index Eur J Heart Fail, June 1, 2009; 11(6): 567 - 572. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. A. Hagobian, C. G. Sharoff, B. R. Stephens, G. N. Wade, J. E. Silva, S. R. Chipkin, and B. Braun Effects of exercise on energy-regulating hormones and appetite in men and women Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, February 1, 2009; 296(2): R233 - R242. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				U. Mager, M. Kolehmainen, V. D F de Mello, U. Schwab, D. E Laaksonen, R. Rauramaa, H. Gylling, M. Atalay, L. Pulkkinen, and M. Uusitupa Expression of ghrelin gene in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and plasma ghrelin concentrations in patients with metabolic syndrome. Eur. J. Endocrinol., April 1, 2008; 158(4): 499 - 510. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Iantorno, H. Chen, J.-a Kim, M. Tesauro, D. Lauro, C. Cardillo, and M. J. Quon Ghrelin has novel vascular actions that mimic PI 3-kinase-dependent actions of insulin to stimulate production of NO from endothelial cells Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, March 1, 2007; 292(3): E756 - E764. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. R. Kraemer and V. D. Castracane Exercise and Humoral Mediators of Peripheral Energy Balance: Ghrelin and Adiponectin Experimental Biology and Medicine, February 1, 2007; 232(2): 184 - 194. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. J. Mackelvie, G. S. Meneilly, D. Elahi, A. C. K. Wong, S. I. Barr, and J.-P. Chanoine Regulation of Appetite in Lean and Obese Adolescents after Exercise: Role of Acylated and Desacyl Ghrelin J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2007; 92(2): 648 - 654. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. A. Tritos and E. G. Kokkotou The Physiology and Potential Clinical Applications of Ghrelin, a Novel Peptide Hormone Mayo Clin. Proc., May 1, 2006; 81(5): 653 - 660. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Langenberg, J. Bergstrom, G. A. Laughlin, and E. Barrett-Connor Ghrelin, Adiponectin, and Leptin Do Not Predict Long-term Changes in Weight and Body Mass Index in Older Adults: Longitudinal Analysis of the Rancho Bernardo Cohort Am. J. Epidemiol., December 15, 2005; 162(12): 1189 - 1197. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Tesauro, F. Schinzari, M. Iantorno, S. Rizza, D. Melina, D. Lauro, and C. Cardillo Ghrelin Improves Endothelial Function in Patients With Metabolic Syndrome Circulation, November 8, 2005; 112(19): 2986 - 2992. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. L. Williams and D. E. Cummings Regulation of Ghrelin in Physiologic and Pathophysiologic States J. Nutr., May 1, 2005; 135(5): 1320 - 1325. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]