Ghrelin/Obestatin Ratio as a Potential Mediator for Food Intake and Fat Distribution among Obese Children

Abstract

hildhood obesity is one of the most irritating public health problems being a major risk factor for several future chronic diseases, such as, hypertension, dyslipidemia, DM-II, coronary heart diseases, many psychosocial and social problems. Hormones of the gut–brain axis are found to have an important role in regulating the body’s energy balance and appetite. Data of literature show parallel changes in Ghrelin and Obestatin secretion in pathological conditions characterized by energy imbalance like obesity. Very few studies addressed the assessment of Ghrelin/Obestatin ratio among Egyptian obese children; therefore, current study represents an important evaluation of the balance between these two hormones among them. Current study was a cross sectional case-control one, that included 60 obese children of both sexes (27 males & 33 females) aged (6- <12) years old with body mass index ≥ 95th percentile, in addition to 31 healthy children (16 males & 15 females) with (BMI=15 - < 85 percentile). 1) Comparison of the 2 groups under study revealed: a) Insignificant age and sex differences. b) Family history of obesity, cardiovascular diseases (CVS) and diabetes mellitus (DM) was more prominent among the obese children.