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Impact of synthetic ghrelin administration for patients with severe body weight reduction more than 1 year after gastrectomy: a phase II clinical trial

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Abstract

Purpose

Ghrelin is mainly secreted from the stomach and plays a role in appetite, weight gain, and the promotion of a positive energy balance. The levels of ghrelin decrease immediately after gastrectomy. We herein investigated the effect of the administration of synthetic ghrelin to treat postoperative severe weight loss in a prospective, one-arm clinical trial to develop new strategies for weight gain.

Methods

Ten patients (four distal gastrectomy and six total gastrectomy) received ghrelin treatment. Eligibility criteria included patients who underwent gastrectomy more than 1 year previously and 15 % body weight loss from the preoperative weight or a body mass index under 19. Synthetic human ghrelin (3 μg/kg) was administered to the patients twice a day for 1 week. Oral intake of calories, appetite [evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS)], and body weight before and during administration of ghrelin were compared.

Results

There was a significant difference in the oral food intake before and during treatment (before treatment: 1236 ± 409 kcal vs. during treatment: 1398 ± 365 kcal, p = 0.039), and the VAS for appetite significantly improved with each day of ghrelin administration (p < 0.05). Significant amounts of body weight were gained (39.5 ± 6.8 vs. 40.1 ± 6.9, p = 0.037).

Conclusions

The administration of synthetic ghrelin improved the food intake and was effective for treating appetite loss and body weight loss. Synthetic ghrelin may be a promising new therapy for severe body weight loss following gastrectomy.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Gastroenterological Surgery, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2, E2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan

    Shuji Takiguchi, Yasuhiro Miyazaki, Tsuyoshi Takahashi, Yukinori Kurokawa, Makoto Yamasaki, Kiyokazu Nakajima, Hiroshi Miyata, Masaki Mori & Yuichiro Doki

  2. Department of Biochemistry, National Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Osaka, Japan

    Hiroshi Hosoda & Kenji Kangawa

Authors
  1. Shuji Takiguchi
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  2. Yasuhiro Miyazaki
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  3. Tsuyoshi Takahashi
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  4. Yukinori Kurokawa
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  5. Makoto Yamasaki
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  6. Kiyokazu Nakajima
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  7. Hiroshi Miyata
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  8. Hiroshi Hosoda
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  9. Kenji Kangawa
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  10. Masaki Mori
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  11. Yuichiro Doki
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Correspondence to Shuji Takiguchi.

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Cite this article

Takiguchi, S., Miyazaki, Y., Takahashi, T. et al. Impact of synthetic ghrelin administration for patients with severe body weight reduction more than 1 year after gastrectomy: a phase II clinical trial. Surg Today 46, 379–385 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-015-1187-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-015-1187-2

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