| Objective: We aimed to investigate the association between serum
levels of ghrelin and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) with MetS
and its components in premenopausal women.
Methods: 43 patients with MetS and 43 healthy controls participated
in this study. Participants’ body mass index (BMI), waist circumference
(WC), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) were
measured. Serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low
and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C and HDL-C), fasting blood
sugar (FBS), insulin, BDNF and ghrelin determined. Homeostasis model
assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) was also calculated.
Results: Participants in MetS group had higher waist-to-hip ratios,
elevated SBP and DBP, and higher serum levels of TG, FBS and insulin
when compared with the control group. Serum ghrelin and BDNF levels
were significantly lower in participants with MetS than in the healthier
control subjects. There was a strong, positive correlation between serum
ghrelin and BDNF levels. Both proteins negatively correlated with TG,
FBS, HOMA-IR and positively with HDL-C. Furthermore, serum BDNF
levels negatively associated with insulin levels.
Conclusions: The findings indicate that variations occur in the
circulating level of ghrelin and BDNF proteins in MetS patients. A
strong correlation between serum ghrelin and BDNF suggests that
production, release or practice of these 2 proteins might be related
mechanically. |