help button home button Endocrine Society JCEM
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH
This version published online on November 2, 2004
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, doi:10.1210/jc.2004-0604
A more recent version of this article appeared on February 1, 2005
This Article
Right arrow Author Manuscript (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
90/2/741    most recent
Author Manuscript (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a related Letter to the Editor
Right arrow Purchase Article
Right arrow View Shopping Cart
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Copyright Permission
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Espelund, U.
Right arrow Articles by Frystyk, J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Espelund, U.
Right arrow Articles by Frystyk, J.

Submitted on March 30, 2004
Accepted on October 22, 2004

Fasting Unmasks a Strong Inverse Association Between Ghrelin and Cortisol in Serum: Studies in Obese and Normal-weight Subjects

Ulrick Espelund, Troels Krarup Hansen, Kurt Højlund, Henning Beck-Nielsen, Jes Thorn Clausen, Birgit Sehested Hansen, Hans Ørskov, Jens Otto Lunde Jørgensen, and Jan Frystyk*

Medical Research Laboratories, Clinical Institute and Medical Department M, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus C, Denmark; Diabetes Research Centre, Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital, Odense C, Denmark; Department of Assay & Cell Technology, Research and Development, Novo Nordisk A/S, Bagsværd, Denmark; Biochemistry and Metabolism, Novo Nordisk A/S, Måløv, Denmark

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Jan Frystyk, E-mail: jan{at}frystyk.dk

Administration of ghrelin, the endogenous ligand for the growth hormone (GH) secretagogue receptor, stimulates not only GH secretion but also appetite and food intake in humans. Endogenous ghrelin levels display a distinct circadian rhythm, which is reciprocal to that of insulin and presumed to be meal-dependent and not associated with GH secretion. We tested the hypothesis that food deprivation could impact circadian serum ghrelin levels and unmask meal-independent regulatory mechanisms.

Thirty three young adults, subdivided according to gender and level of obesity, were studied with blood sampling every 3 h from 12 to 84 h of fasting. Serum ghrelin levels showed a marked diurnal rhythm with a nadir in the morning (08:00 h), peak levels in the afternoon and a gradual decline during the night. This pattern was preserved during the entire fasting period and was independent of gender and obesity. Mean 24-h ghrelin levels exhibited a small but significant decline during the fast (P < 0.001). As expected, GH secretion increased with fasting in lean subjects, and a gradual decline in insulin concentrations was observed in all subjects. Neither GH nor insulin showed any significant relationship to ghrelin. In contrast, serum cortisol exhibited a strong inverse temporal association with ghrelin (r = -0.79; P < 0.0001).

In conclusion, our study yields no evidence that ghrelin stimulates GH release during fasting. As a novel finding, ghrelin appears to be related to cortisol. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the physiological mechanisms behind this relationship.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 AMERICAN JOURNAL OF LIFESTYLE MEDICINEHome page
A. Geliebter, C. N. Ochner, and R. Aviram-Friedman
Appetite-Related Gut Peptides in Obesity and Binge Eating Disorder
American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, July 1, 2008; 2(4): 305 - 314.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 J EndocrinolHome page
K Scrimgeour, M J Gresham, L R Giles, P C Thomson, P C Wynn, and R E Newman
Ghrelin secretion is more closely aligned to energy balance than with feeding behaviour in the grower pig
J. Endocrinol., July 1, 2008; 198(1): 135 - 145.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
S. Gjedde, E. T. Vestergaard, L. C. Gormsen, A. L. D. Riis, J. Rungby, N. Moller, J. Weeke, and J. O. L. Jorgensen
Serum Ghrelin Levels Are Increased in Hypothyroid Patients and Become Normalized by L-Thyroxine Treatment
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2008; 93(6): 2277 - 2280.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
R. Nass, L. S. Farhy, J. Liu, C. E. Prudom, M. L. Johnson, P. Veldhuis, S. S. Pezzoli, M. C. Oliveri, B. D. Gaylinn, H. M. Geysen, et al.
Evidence for Acyl-Ghrelin Modulation of Growth Hormone Release in the Fed State
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 2008; 93(5): 1988 - 1994.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
J. Liu, C. E. Prudom, R. Nass, S. S. Pezzoli, M. C. Oliveri, M. L. Johnson, P. Veldhuis, D. A. Gordon, A. D. Howard, D. R. Witcher, et al.
Novel Ghrelin Assays Provide Evidence for Independent Regulation of Ghrelin Acylation and Secretion in Healthy Young Men
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 2008; 93(5): 1980 - 1987.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Clin. Chem.Home page
C. Chiesa, J. F. Osborn, C. Haass, F. Natale, M. Spinelli, E. Scapillati, A. Spinelli, and L. Pacifico
Ghrelin, Leptin, IGF-1, IGFBP-3, and Insulin Concentrations at Birth: Is There a Relationship with Fetal Growth and Neonatal Anthropometry?
Clin. Chem., March 1, 2008; 54(3): 550 - 558.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
E. T. Vestergaard, C. B. Djurhuus, J. Gjedsted, S. Nielsen, N. Moller, J. J. Holst, J. O. L. Jorgensen, and O. Schmitz
Acute Effects of Ghrelin Administration on Glucose and Lipid Metabolism
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2008; 93(2): 438 - 444.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Eur J EndocrinolHome page
E. Lanyi, A. Varnagy, K. A Kovacs, T. Csermely, M. Szasz, and I. Szabo
Ghrelin and acyl ghrelin in preterm infants and maternal blood: relationship with endocrine and anthropometric measures
Eur. J. Endocrinol., January 1, 2008; 158(1): 27 - 33.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J EndocrinolHome page
B. Beck and S. Richy
Differential long-term dietary regulation of adipokines, ghrelin, or corticosterone: impact on adiposity
J. Endocrinol., January 1, 2008; 196(1): 171 - 179.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
E. T. Vestergaard, N. H. Andersen, T. K. Hansen, L. M. Rasmussen, N. Moller, K. E. Sorensen, E. Sloth, and J. O. L. Jorgensen
Cardiovascular effects of intravenous ghrelin infusion in healthy young men
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, November 1, 2007; 293(5): H3020 - H3026.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
G. Vila, C. Maier, M. Riedl, P. Nowotny, B. Ludvik, A. Luger, and M. Clodi
Bacterial Endotoxin Induces Biphasic Changes in Plasma Ghrelin in Healthy Humans
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2007; 92(10): 3930 - 3934.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Eur J EndocrinolHome page
M. Korbonits, D. Blaine, M. Elia, and J. Powell-Tuck
Metabolic and hormonal changes during the refeeding period of prolonged fasting
Eur. J. Endocrinol., August 1, 2007; 157(2): 157 - 166.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
R. K. Stoving, J.-W. Chen, D. Glintborg, K. Brixen, A. Flyvbjerg, K. Horder, and J. Frystyk
Bioactive Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF) I and IGF-Binding Protein-1 in Anorexia Nervosa
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2007; 92(6): 2323 - 2329.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
E. T. Vestergaard, T. K. Hansen, L. C. Gormsen, P. Jakobsen, N. Moller, J. S. Christiansen, and J. O. L. Jorgensen
Constant intravenous ghrelin infusion in healthy young men: clinical pharmacokinetics and metabolic effects
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, June 1, 2007; 292(6): E1829 - E1836.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Eur J EndocrinolHome page
M. Maghnie, M. C. Pennati, E. Civardi, N. Di Iorgi, G. Aimaretti, M. L. Foschini, G. Corneli, C. Tinelli, E. Ghigo, R. Lorini, et al.
GH response to ghrelin in subjects with congenital GH deficiency: evidence that ghrelin action requires hypothalamic-pituitary connections
Eur. J. Endocrinol., April 1, 2007; 156(4): 449 - 454.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
E. T. Vestergaard, R. Dall, K. H. W. Lange, M. Kjaer, J. S. Christiansen, and J. O. L. Jorgensen
The Ghrelin Response to Exercise before and after Growth Hormone Administration
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2007; 92(1): 297 - 303.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
J. O. L. Jorgensen
A simple twist of science: the convoluted tale of ghrelin continues.
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 2006; 91(9): 3279 - 3280.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Eur J EndocrinolHome page
D. Glintborg, M. Andersen, C. Hagen, J. Frystyk, V. Hulstrom, A. Flyvbjerg, and A. P. Hermann
Evaluation of metabolic risk markers in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Adiponectin, ghrelin, leptin and body composition in hirsute PCOS patients and controls.
Eur. J. Endocrinol., August 1, 2006; 155(2): 337 - 345.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
P. Koutkia, S. Schurgin, J. Berry, J. Breu, B. S. H. Lee, A. Klibanski, and S. Grinspoon
Reciprocal changes in endogenous ghrelin and growth hormone during fasting in healthy women
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, November 1, 2005; 289(5): E814 - E822.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Clin. Chem.Home page
T. Siahanidou, H. Mandyla, M. Vounatsou, D. Anagnostakis, I. Papassotiriou, and G. P. Chrousos
Circulating Peptide YY Concentrations Are Higher in Preterm than Full-Term Infants and Correlate Negatively with Body Weight and Positively with Serum Ghrelin Concentrations
Clin. Chem., November 1, 2005; 51(11): 2131 - 2137.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Eur J EndocrinolHome page
E T Vestergaard, T K Hansen, S Nielsen, N Moller, J S Christiansen, and J O L Jorgensen
Effects of GH replacement therapy in adults on serum levels of leptin and ghrelin: the role of lipolysis
Eur. J. Endocrinol., October 1, 2005; 153(4): 545 - 549.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J EndocrinolHome page
N Govoni, R De Iasio, C Cocco, A Parmeggiani, G Galeati, U Pagotto, C Brancia, M Spinaci, C Tamanini, R Pasquali, et al.
Gastric immunolocalization and plasma profiles of acyl-ghrelin in fasted and fasted-refed prepuberal gilts
J. Endocrinol., September 1, 2005; 186(3): 505 - 513.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Clin. Chem.Home page
C. Chiesa, J. F. Osborn, L. Pacifico, G. Tellan, P. M. Strappini, R. Fazio, and G. Delogu
Circulating Ghrelin in Patients Undergoing Elective Cholecystectomy
Clin. Chem., July 1, 2005; 51(7): 1258 - 1261.
[Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH
Endocrinology Endocrine Reviews J. Clin. End. & Metab.
Molecular Endocrinology Recent Prog. Horm. Res. All Endocrine Journals
Copyright © 2004 by The Endocrine Society