The protein ghrelin is produced predominantly by the cells of the gastrointestinal tract. Intensive release into the blood begins after the supply of food has stopped. This stimulates a person to search for products and the process of their use.

Elevated ghrelin levels cause obesity, but when a high body weight is reached, its concentration in the blood decreases. Ghrelin increases with weight loss, This is what explains food breakdowns when dieting.. Normally, after the intake of food, the level of the hormone decreases, but in obese patients and in violation of eating behavior, such a decrease does not occur. In such cases, the patient does not feel full, eats more than required.

The hormone is responsible for the following processes in the body:

• changes the secretion and pancreas (, adrenocorticotropin, insulin, prolactin), sex steroids;
• protects heart cells from destruction due to insufficient oxygen supply;
• inhibits tumor growth;
• activates the immune system;

Indications for the determination of ghrelin in the blood are obesity, hypertension, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus. In these cases, it is most often reduced.

High hormone levels happen:

• with a hereditary disease - Prader-Willi syndrome;
• with anorexia nervosa (refusal of food);
• at night, in thin people, the synthesis of ghrelin increases, and with obesity, this effect is absent;
• in chronic sleep deprivation, appetite increases due to the release of ghrelin, which is one of the risk factors for obesity.

Normal concentration of ghrelin is from 45 to 75 mcg/l. It is not stable and depends on the time of the last meal, its volume and calorie content, and is also subject to daily fluctuations. More often taken in large clinical institutions to determine the results of obesity treatment.

• portions should not exceed 300 g in volume, there must be a first course at lunch, and a salad of fresh vegetables at dinner;
• before going to bed, it is recommended to take a sour-milk drink;
• daily duration of physical activity - at least one hour;

If weight loss is not possible, gastric bypass is performed on its own. The operation helps to reduce the number of active cells that produce the hunger hormone.

Due to the property of the hormone to increase the production of growth factors in sports medicine, synthetic analogues are used - Ipamorelin, Pralmorelin, Hexarelin. They are used by bodybuilders to build muscle mass. Under their influence, the synthesis of growth hormone increases without a significant increase in appetite, exercise tolerance improves, muscle strength indicators increase, muscle relief increases, bone tissue strengthens.

A vaccine based on the hormone ghrelin. Fragments of the hormone molecule were placed in weakened viral particles. After the introduction of the vaccine in the body, the formation of antibodies begins. The anti-obesity drug is undergoing clinical trials, but the vaccine has already been shown to reduce body fat and body weight without making dietary changes.

Read more in our article on the hormone ghrelin.

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How does the hormone ghrelin work?

This protein is produced predominantly by the cells of the gastrointestinal tract, most of which are located at the bottom of the stomach. Intensive release into the blood begins after the supply of food has stopped. This stimulates a person to search for products and the process of their use.

Increased levels of ghrelin cause obesity, but when a high body weight is reached, its concentration in the blood decreases. With weight loss, it increases, this is what explains food breakdowns when following a diet. Normally, after food intake, ghrelin decreases, but in obese patients and in violation of eating behavior, this decrease does not occur. In such cases, the patient does not feel full, eats more than is required to compensate for energy losses.

Role in the body

As the biological effects of ghrelin were studied, it was found that its functions in the body are much wider than increasing hunger and stimulating the search for and consumption of food. This hormone is responsible for the following processes:

• coordinates the motor activity of the stomach and intestines;
• suppresses the activity of the reproductive system;
• regulates circadian rhythms (sleep at night and wakefulness during daylight hours);
• changes the secretion of pituitary and pancreatic hormones (somatotropin, adrenocorticotropin, insulin, vasopressin, prolactin), sex steroids;
• protects heart cells from destruction in case of insufficient oxygen supply (ischemia);
• inhibits tumor growth;
• activates the immune system;
• lowers blood pressure without changing the heart rate;
• improves myocardial contractility, increases cardiac output;
• has a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect;
• promotes attachment of the placenta during pregnancy;
• improves memory and intelligence;
• stimulates the growth of bones and muscle tissue (indirectly, through growth hormone).

Hunger hormone test

Indications for the determination of ghrelin in the blood are obesity, arterial hypertension, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus. In these cases, it is most often reduced. There is a hereditary disease - Prader-Willi syndrome, in which high levels of ghrelin are detected. Patients with this pathology are found to have mental retardation, short stature, weak skeletal muscle tone, and obesity.

With anorexia nervosa (refusal of food), ghrelin in the blood is also elevated, so the body gives signals about the need for food, but due to a mental disorder, the brain does not respond to them. At night, ghrelin synthesis increases in lean people, and this effect is absent in obese people. It has also been proven that with chronic lack of sleep, appetite increases due to the release of ghrelin, which is one of the risk factors for obesity.

Normal concentration of ghrelin is from 45 to 75 mcg/l. It is not stable and depends on the time of the last meal, its volume and calorie content, and is also subject to daily fluctuations. The study of venous blood for the hormone of hunger is carried out by the enzyme immunoassay method. This analysis has not yet received wide distribution, it is most often used in large clinical institutions to determine the results of obesity treatment.

How to lower the hormone ghrelin

In order to normalize the formation of the hunger hormone, it is recommended:

• eat often, at least every 2-3 hours;
• portions should not exceed 300 g in volume, there must be a first course at lunch, and a salad of fresh vegetables at dinner. Before going to bed, it is recommended to take a lactic acid drink containing beneficial bacteria;
• daily duration of physical activity - at least one hour;
• night sleep should be 7-8 hours, and during the day you need a good rest for about 30 minutes;
• refusal to take alcohol, pills to reduce the feeling of hunger;
• exclusion from the menu of simple carbohydrates (sugar, premium flour, fructose), animal fats.

With the complete ineffectiveness of the diet and increased physical activity, and more often if the patient does not want to follow the recommendations for proper nutrition, gastric bypass is performed. A small cavity is created in the upper part of it, containing a small amount of food. This operation helps to reduce the number of active cells that produce the hunger hormone.

Watch the video about the hormone ghrelin:

Ghrelin-based drugs

Due to the property of the hormone to increase the production of growth factors in sports medicine, its synthetic analogues are used - Ipamorelin, Pralmorelin, Hexarelin. They are used by bodybuilders to build muscle mass. Under their influence, the synthesis of growth hormone increases without a significant increase in appetite. Physical exercise tolerance improves, muscle strength indicators increase, muscle relief increases, bone tissue strengthens.

Obesity Vaccines

Based on the hormone ghrelin, a vaccine has been created. Fragments of the hormone molecule were placed in weakened viral particles. After the introduction of the vaccine in the body, the formation of antibodies begins. They combine with their own ghrelin, inactivate (prevent its action) or prevent it from crossing the blood-brain barrier and entering the brain.

The anti-obesity drug is undergoing clinical trials, but the vaccine has already been shown to reduce body fat and body weight without making dietary changes.

The hormone ghrelin is produced in the cells of the digestive system during interruptions in the intake of food. Normally, its secretion stops after eating. An increased concentration in the blood leads to overeating. In obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, the hormone levels are low. Ghrelin regulates not only body weight, but also changes the synthesis of pituitary and pancreatic hormones.

The effect of ghrelin on the heart, memory, growth, and immunity has been found. On the basis of the hormone, drugs have been created to stimulate the formation of growth hormone and a vaccine against obesity.