Colleyville, TX
A 39-year-old male asked:
what is ghrelin and is it really a hunger hormone?
4 doctor answers • 9 doctors weighed in
Dr. Vasu Brown answered
Integrative Medicine 34 years experience
Yes: The discovery of ghrelin followed after the discovery of the ghrelin receptor in 1996 and was reported by masayasu kojima and colleagues in 1999. The name is based on its role as a growth hormone-releasing peptide, with reference to the proto-indo-european root ghre, meaning to grow. The name can also be viewed as an interesting (and incidental) pun, too, as the initial letters of the phrase.
6286 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Patrick Melder answered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 27 years experience
Yes: Ghrelin is a "hunger hormone" and is actually found in elevated levels during sleep apnea.
6286 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
1 comment
Dr. Vasu Brown commented
Integrative Medicine 34 years experience
hey i did not know that neat thank you Dr. Melder
Oct 10, 2011
Dr. Katherine Sutherland answered
Gynecology 43 years experience
Yes: Ghrelin is a hormone produced by the stomach that causes the hunger center in the brain to be activated. It is usually increased before a meal and decreases after eating. Levels are abnormally high in some obese people, but bariatric surgery may reduce levels. Increased sleep may also reduce levels.
5780 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Ralph Morgan Lewis answered
Family Medicine 38 years experience
Ghrelin is a protein: (peptide) & hormone produced in the stomach & pancreas that stimulates hunger by stimulating growth hormone from the pituitary gland. Paradoxically, obese people have lower ghrelin levels than average, & anorexics have elevated levels. Studies are showing ghrelin has many other functions such as intestinal motility, lung development in fetuses, & enhancing learning & memory.
5778 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Similar questions
A 31-year-old member asked:
Which hormones affect appetite?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Brad Eilerman answered
Endocrinology 20 years experience
Many: Insulin, glucagon, ghrelin, leptin, cortisol, pyy, npy, glp to name a few.
5240 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Canada
A 24-year-old male asked:
Can my family doctor give me appetite supressant while on hormone replacem therapy? Or it will just be too much for me? What can be the complications if both consumed?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Ronald Krauser answered
Rheumatology 52 years experience
See details: What specific meds are you talking about? It is probably fine but if you are about possible med interactions it is always best to actually tell us which meds.
3954 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:
Last updated Sep 28, 2016
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