Influence of ghrelin on the gastric accommodation reflex and on meal-induced satiety in man

What Was Tested

Researchers studied Ghrelin in this randomized controlled trial publication.

The aims of the study were to evaluate the effect of ghrelin on postprandial gastric tone and on meal-induced satiety in health.

Why It Was Studied

Ten healthy volunteers underwent a barostat study on two occasions.

After determination of intra-abdominal pressure (minimal distending pressure, MDP), isobaric volume measurement was performed for 90 min at MDP + 2 mmHg.

Who Took Part

The abstract describes 10 subjects taking part.

The age groups tagged for this paper are adults, both men and women.

How the Study Was Run

In design terms this was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled and crossover study.

Random assignment meant chance, not the researchers, decided who got Ghrelin and who got the comparison, which limits bias.

Neither the subjects nor the staff measuring them knew who was on Ghrelin, so expectations could not easily colour the readings.

Some subjects received a placebo instead of Ghrelin, giving a reference point.

Each person switched between Ghrelin and the comparison at some point, usually with a gap in between.

What Was Measured

After determination of intra-abdominal pressure (minimal distending pressure, MDP), isobaric volume measurement was performed for 90 min at MDP + 2 mmHg.

Data (mean +/- SEM) were compared using paired Student's t-test and ANOVA.

Topics PubMed links to this paper include Eating, Gastric Emptying, Ghrelin, Muscle Contraction, Postprandial Period, Pressure and Reflex.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of Ghrelin in 10 subjects.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The publication is from 2009 (Neurogastroenterology and motility), a journal based in England.

More context: the Ghrelin compound page, all human trials.