BACKGROUND: An involvement of ghrelin in glucose metabolism has been suggested; nevertheless, the relationship between ghrelin and insulin resistance (IR) remains unclear.
AIMS: 1. To investigate the effect of glucose loading on ghrelin in prepubertal obese children with IR. 2. To assess possible correlations between IR and changes in circulating ghrelin.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty prepubertal obese, insulin-resistant and 18 age- and sex-matched lean children were studied. Fasting glucose, insulin and ghrelin levels were measured. In the obese group, measurements were repeated during an OGTT.
RESULTS: Ghrelin levels were decreased at 60 min, but thereafter increased to baseline values. The fall in circulating ghrelin was negatively correlated with IR and the respective rise in insulin levels.
CONCLUSIONS: In prepubertal, insulin-resistant obese children, ghrelin is significantly suppressed shortly after glucose intake. It is possible that the above effect is attenuated by IR and the resultant increase in insulin levels.