B-type natriuretic peptide modulates ghrelin, hunger, and satiety in healthy men

What Was Tested

The paper reports a study of Ghrelin and BNP (Nesiritide), published as a randomized controlled trial.

The pathophysiological mechanisms linking heart failure and appetite regulation remain unknown.

In this study, the researchers investigated the impact of intravenous BNP administration on appetite-regulating hormones and subjective ratings of hunger and satiety in 10 healthy volunteers.

Who Took Part

The abstract describes 10 volunteers taking part.

PubMed indexes the participants as adults, men only.

Subjective ratings of hunger and satiety were evaluated by visual analog scales.

How the Study Was Run

The researchers set it up as a randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled and crossover study.

The volunteers were allocated by chance, so the Ghrelin group and the comparison group should start out alike.

Only one side, usually the volunteers, was kept unaware of whether Ghrelin was given.

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

In the crossover set-up each of the volunteers took both Ghrelin and the comparison in turn, acting as their own control.

Circulating concentrations of appetite-regulating peptides were measured hourly.

What Was Measured

PubMed files the paper under topics including Acylation, Blood Glucose, Ghrelin, Hunger, Insulin, Leptin and Natriuretic Peptide, Brain.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, single-blind and placebo-controlled study of Ghrelin and BNP (Nesiritide) in 10 volunteers.

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 2012 (Diabetes), a journal based in United States.

More context: the Ghrelin compound page and the BNP (Nesiritide) compound page, all human trials.