Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction

Ghrelin has an important role in insulin resistance, glucose and lipid metabolism and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It is still unclear whether insulin and glucose per se play a direct inhibitory role in ghrelin secretion. The decrease in ghrelin levels after an oral glucose load is modulated by sex, status of obesity, and level of insulin resistance. The aim of our study was to evaluate gender differences in ghrelin levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

Methods

109 women and 32 men with type 2 diabetic mellitus were included to the study. The age of the participants was 62 (59–68) years old, mean body mass index – 32.2 (29.0–35.7) kg/m² with no statistical gender differences in parameters (U=1587.5; P = 0.173, U=1689.0; P = 0, 373). The serum levels of ghrelin were analyzed by the sandwich ELISA method.

Results

Fasting concentration of ghrelin in diabetic patients was 0, 78 (0.57–0.98). The level of ghrelin in women with type 2 diabetes mellitus was 0.79 (0.55–0.96), in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus was 0.78 (0.64–1.06). The results revealed no gender differences in ghrelin levels (U=1410.0; P = 0.100).

Conclusion

The study did not reveal gender differences in fasting ghrelin concentrations in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.