Vol 59, No 3 (2008)
Original paper
Published online: 2008-05-08
Ghrelin as a potential blood pressure reducing factor in obese women during weight loss treatment
Endokrynol Pol 2008;59(3):207-211.
Abstract
Background: In animal models ghrelin reduces cardiac afterload and increases cardiac output via receptors in the cardiovascular system.
The aim of our study was to evaluate a potential relationship between weight loss treatment, blood pressure and serum ghrelin concentrations
in obese women.
Material and methods: A group of 37 obese premenopausal women with no previous history of hypertension (BMI: 36.5 ± 5 kg/m2) were involved in the study. Blood pressure and serum ghrelin levels were assessed before and after a three-month weight reduction treatment, which consisted of a diet of 1000 kcal/day and physical exercise. Body composition was determined by impedance analysis using Bodystat.
Results: Following weight loss (mean 8.9 ± 4.8 kg) SBP decreased (120 ± 13 vs. 115 ± 14 mm Hg, p = 0.01) and serum ghrelin levels increased significantly (66.9 ± 13.7 vs. 73.9 ± 15.4 pg/ml; p = 0.005). There were significant correlations between values for ghrelin levels after weight loss and SBP (r = -0.45, p = 0.02), DBP (r = -0.41, p < 0.05), and between Dghrelin levels and DSBP (r = 0.52, p = 0.006), DDBP (r = 0.53, p = 0.005). There was a positive correlation between an increase in ghrelin and a decrease in percentage body fat during weight loss (r = 0.51; p = 0.002).
Conclusion: The results seem to provide evidence that weight loss may decrease blood pressure in obese patients via a ghrelin-dependent mechanism.
Material and methods: A group of 37 obese premenopausal women with no previous history of hypertension (BMI: 36.5 ± 5 kg/m2) were involved in the study. Blood pressure and serum ghrelin levels were assessed before and after a three-month weight reduction treatment, which consisted of a diet of 1000 kcal/day and physical exercise. Body composition was determined by impedance analysis using Bodystat.
Results: Following weight loss (mean 8.9 ± 4.8 kg) SBP decreased (120 ± 13 vs. 115 ± 14 mm Hg, p = 0.01) and serum ghrelin levels increased significantly (66.9 ± 13.7 vs. 73.9 ± 15.4 pg/ml; p = 0.005). There were significant correlations between values for ghrelin levels after weight loss and SBP (r = -0.45, p = 0.02), DBP (r = -0.41, p < 0.05), and between Dghrelin levels and DSBP (r = 0.52, p = 0.006), DDBP (r = 0.53, p = 0.005). There was a positive correlation between an increase in ghrelin and a decrease in percentage body fat during weight loss (r = 0.51; p = 0.002).
Conclusion: The results seem to provide evidence that weight loss may decrease blood pressure in obese patients via a ghrelin-dependent mechanism.
Keywords: obesityghrelinarterial blood pressureweight loss
