[Relationship among pathological change of gastric mucous, body mass index and the serum levels of ghrelin and leptin].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate serum ghrelin and leptin levels in relation to pathology change of gastric mucous membrane and body mass index (BMI).

METHODS

A total of 156 patients were studied from Apr. 2009 to Jul. 2009. Blood serum ghrelin and leptin levels were assessed by ELISA method. All patients underwent gastroscopy with biopsies from gastric antrum and gastric body in order to evaluate pathology change of gastric mucous membrane.

RESULTS

Serum ghrelin levels (250.14 ng/L vs 386.65 ng/L) and leptin levels (4.12 μg/L vs 4.31 μg/L) in male subjects were lower than in female ones. There was significant difference in ghrelin levels (P=0.003), but not in leptin levels (P=0.681). ghrelin levels in ≤35-year-old group, 36 to 54-year-old group and ≥55-year-old group were 408.93 ng/L, 309.16 ng/L and 236.76 ng/L respectively, with significant difference (P=0.007). While leptin levels in ≤35-year-old group, 36 to 54-year-old group and ≥55-year-old group were 4.26 μg/L, 4.41 μg/L and 3.86 μg/L respectively, without significant difference (P=0.549). Serum ghrelin levels (308.40 ng/L vs 344.88 ng/L) and leptin levels (4.17 μg/L vs 4.35 μg/L) were both lower in chronic superficial gastritis patients than in chronic atrophy gastritis patients. But no statistically significant difference of ghrelin and leptin levels emerged either in chronic superficial gastritis group or in chronic atrophy gastritis group (P=0.870 and 0.436, respectively). There was a negative correlation between ghrelin and BMI (P=0.000), but a positive correlation between leptin and BMI (P=0.000).

CONCLUSION

Gender and age have influence on serum ghrelin levels. Meanwhile, serum ghrelin and leptin levels were associated with neither chronic superficial gastritis nor chronic atrophy gastritis. Serum ghrelin levels decrease and leptin levels increase with the increase of BMI.