Plasma levels of obestatin and ghrelin and obestatin/ghrelin ratio in obese patients

Background: Obestatin and ghrelin are two gastric hormones that have a potential role in dietary intake regulation. Obestatin/ghrelin ratio has been proposed as activity markers in obesity. The study aimed to evaluate ghrelin, obestatin and the ghrelin/obestatin ratio in obese compared to control subjects and to determine their relationship with anthropometric and metabolic parameters. Methods: Fasting obestatin and ghrelin levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ELISA in 28 obese and 24 healthy subjects. The fasting ghrelin/obestatin ratio was calculated. Anthropometric and metabolic parameters were also assessed. Results: Obese patients had significantly lower obestatin and ghrelin blood levels compared with controls. The Ghrelin/Obestatin ratio was significantly lower in obese group 0.813±0.0417 ng/ml than in the control group 0.896±0.049 ng/ml, (p<0.001). In obese patients, obestatin and ghrelin were significantly and negatively correlated with BMI and positively correlated with HDL-C. Conclusion: Circulating preprandial ghrelin to obestatin ratio is decreased obese subjects. We suggest that low preprandial ghrelin to obestatin ratio may be involved in the etiology and pathophysiology of obesity.