Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Obestatin has been proposed to have anorexigenic and anti-ghrelin action. An association has been found between ghrelin and its decline with ageing and muscle strength and functional capacity, probably mediated by GH–IGF1 axis. However, no information is available in relation to the role of obestatin in muscle strength and functional capacity.

Objective: The objective was to study obestatin concentrations in relation to handgrip strength, functional capacity and cognitive state in old women.

Methods/design: Prospective study; 110 women (age 76.93±6.32 years) from the Mataró Ageing Study were included. Individuals were characterized by anthropometric variables, grip strength, Barthel and assessment of cognitive impairment (MiniCognoscitive Examination (MCE), Spanish version), depressive status by the geriatric depression scale (GDS) and frailty by Fried criteria. Obestatin was measured by IRMA.

Results: Obestatin was negatively correlated to handgrip at basal time-point (r=−0.220, P=0.023) and at two years follow-up (r=−0.344, P=0.002). Obestatin divided into quartiles, showed a negative linear association with handgrip: 11.03±4.88 kg in 1st quartile, 8.75±4.08 kg in 2nd, 8.11±3.66 kg in 3rd and 7.61±4.08 kg in 4th quartile (P=0.018). Higher obestatin levels were associated to weakness (categorized by handgrip of frailty criteria): 2.24±0.42 ng/ml in weak vs 1.87±0.57 ng/ml in non-weak; P=0.01). Relative decrease in MCE at two year follow-up was significantly higher in individuals in the 4th quartile of obestatin in comparison with individuals in the 1st quartile (7.25±12.03% in 4th quartile vs −0.09±10.48% in 1st quartile; P=0.046). In addition, relative decrease in Barthel score was significantly higher in individuals in the 4th quartile of obestatin in comparison with individuals in the 1st quartile (3.77±5.77% in 4th quartile vs 0.46±3.19% in 1st quartile; P=0.019).

Conclusions: Obestatin is associated to low muscle strength, impaired functional and cognitive capacity in old women participating in the Mataró Ageing Study.