Ghrelin levels are increased in alcoholism

Aims: The newly discovered gut-derived peptide ghrelin increases hunger and food intake and, therefore, might be altered in alcoholism normalizing during alcohol withdrawal. Craving data could correlate with ghrelin plasma levels.

Subjects and methods: 118 alcoholic inpatients (98 intoxicated, 21 who had stopped drinking at least 72hrs before) were consecutively included in a prospective study from the first day of hospitalization, and were compared to 24 healthy controls. In addition to routine laboratory tests ghrelin levels were determined using Phoenix Total Ghrelin RIA Kit. A visual analogue scale (VAS-AC) and the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS) in the validated German version were used to characterize alcohol craving. Data were assessed on days 0, 1, 2 and 7(–10).

Results: At each time-point ghrelin plasma levels of alcoholic patients significantly differed from healthy subjects. Furthermore, patients who had stopped drinking at least 72hrs before showed significantly higher ghrelin levels than patients who were hospitalized in an intoxicated state. In the group of intoxicated patients ghrelin plasma levels significantly increased compared to baseline. No correlations were found between ghrelin levels and craving data measured by the visual analogue scale or the OCDS.

Discussion: Ghrelin levels might be elevated in alcoholism and seem to further increase during alcohol withdrawal. Ghrelin levels do not seem to be associated with alcohol craving.