Ghrelin News and Research

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Ghrelin is a hormone produced mainly by P/D1 cells lining the fundus of the human stomach and epsilon cells of the pancreas that stimulates appetite. Ghrelin levels increase before meals and decrease after meals. It is considered the counterpart of the hormone leptin, produced by adipose tissue, which induces satiation when present at higher levels. Ghrelin is also produced in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus where it stimulates the secretion of growth hormone from the anterior pituitary gland.

Piezo ion channels: Key regulators of digestive health and disease

Mechanosensitive Piezo ion channels, particularly Piezo1 and Piezo2, are gaining recognition as central regulators of digestive system physiology and disease.

7 Aug 2026

Blood ketone threshold may help predict weight loss success

Achieving and sustaining a blood ketone level of 0.5 mmol/L is crucial for weight loss in ketogenic diets, offering a new approach to dietary monitoring.

16 Jul 2026

Gut microbiota may shape eating behavior and guide new obesity treatments

The review shows how gut microbiota may influence appetite, food reward, inflammation, and energy balance through the gut-brain axis. Microbiota-targeted approaches could support future treatments for obesity and eating disorders, but clinical evidence remains limited.

12 Jul 2026

LEAP2 hormone may predict anorexia nervosa relapse risk

People with anorexia nervosa have unusually high levels of a hormone called LEAP2 in their blood when they are in the acute phase of the disorder, according to research presented today (Thursday) at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Forum 2026.

8 Jul 2026

New oral drug shows promise for chronic heart failure treatment

An early clinical study shows that a new oral drug is safe and well-tolerated in patients with chronic heart failure.

24 Jun 2026

Gut microbes may help explain why obesity and type 2 diabetes become harder to reverse

This review describes how gut microbial messengers, including SCFAs, microbiota-modified bile acids, neuroactive metabolites, and extracellular vesicles, may shape obesity and type 2 diabetes through the microbiota-gut-brain axis.

17 Jun 2026

Ghrelin rises in depression despite obesity’s usual appetite-hormone suppression

Researchers found that both acylated and deacylated ghrelin were elevated in unmedicated adults with major depressive disorder and obesity compared with non-depressed adults with obesity. The cross-sectional findings suggest ghrelin-system dysregulation may be linked to depression in obesity, but larger longitudinal studies are needed to test whether ghrelin is a reliable biomarker.

27 May 2026

Indian adapted Mediterranean diet targets inflammation in heart disease trial

The paper describes a single-center randomized controlled trial testing whether an Indian Adapted Mediterranean Diet can reduce dietary inflammation in adults with stable coronary artery disease or moderate-to-high cardiovascular risk. The protocol will assess changes in the Dietary Inflammatory Index, inflammatory biomarkers, cardiometabolic risk factors, body measurements, and metabolic hormones over six months.

25 May 2026

Alcohol intake linked to lower micronutrient intake in men with type 2 diabetes

Researchers analyzed 1,565 Japanese outpatients with type 2 diabetes and found that higher alcohol consumption was associated with lower intake of several micronutrients, particularly potassium, calcium, and vitamins A and C, in younger men. The study also linked alcohol intake to a savory dietary pattern rich in rice, meat, fish, and seasonings, highlighting age- and sex-specific nutritional risks.

9 Mar 2026

Weekend lie-ins may boost insulin sensitivity, but too much may backfire

This study explores the relationship between sleep patterns and insulin sensitivity, emphasizing the impact of weekday sleep and weekend catch-up on metabolism.

6 Mar 2026

Why we keep craving food even when we are full

Research shows food cues activate brain reward signals, leading to eating without hunger, shedding light on obesity and appetite regulation mechanisms.

4 Mar 2026

Disease-responsive nanoparticles enable ghrelin mRNA therapy in osteoarthritis

Nitin Joshi, PhD, and Jingjing Gao, PhD, of the Department of Anesthesiology at Mass General Brigham, are the co-senior authors of a paper published in Nature Nanotechnology, "A disease-severity-responsive nanoparticle enables potent ghrelin mRNA therapy in osteoarthritis." Mahima Dewani, PhD, is the lead author of this study.

14 Jan 2026

The gut is not just digestive and new evidence shows it actively controls brain function

This comprehensive review synthesizes a decade of human and animal research to explain how the gut and brain communicate through hormonal, neural, immune, and microbial pathways. It highlights how disruptions in these pathways contribute to gastrointestinal, metabolic, and neurological disorders, and how modern therapies are beginning to exploit gut–brain signaling for clinical benefit.

6 Jan 2026

Cutting carbs, not fat, may better control appetite in women

Research indicates low-carb diets may enhance appetite regulation and reduce food cues in women with lipedema, offering a dietary intervention advantage.

19 Dec 2025

Swapping high-carb snacks for tree nuts cuts food cravings in young adults at metabolic risk

Daily replacement of typical high-carbohydrate snacks with mixed tree nuts for 16 weeks reduced cravings for sweets and fast foods in young adults with early metabolic syndrome risk. This dietary swap improved overall diet quality, measured by the Healthy Eating Index, without increasing body weight or altering short-term glycaemic markers.

14 Dec 2025

What happens to your body during an ultramarathon? New study reveals key metabolic changes

This study tracked ultramarathon runners across 100 km, 160.9 km, and 230 km events to examine real-world metabolic, hormonal, and muscle stress responses. Severe energy deficits, muscle damage, and heterogeneous hormonal shifts were observed, with the greatest strain seen in the 230 km distance.

10 Dec 2025

Study clarifies why most colic isn’t caused by cow’s milk allergy

Cow’s milk allergy rarely causes infant colic on its own, and most excessively crying infants do not have underlying allergy. A short elimination–and–rechallenge trial may help confirm CMA only when colic coexists with other allergic features.

19 Nov 2025

High protein breakfasts help you feel fuller but do not change how much you eat later

High protein breakfasts, whether plant or animal-based, boosted GLP-1 and PYY and modestly reduced appetite compared with a low protein, high carbohydrate meal. Despite these hormonal and appetite changes, lunchtime energy intake remained unchanged in both younger and older adults.

13 Nov 2025

Does fasting earlier in the day improve metabolism? This study says no

In a randomized crossover trial of 31 women with overweight, early and late time-restricted eating (TRE) produced no improvement in insulin sensitivity or cardiometabolic markers under isocaloric conditions. Both schedules, however, shifted internal circadian clocks, highlighting that meal timing affects biological rhythms more than metabolic outcomes.

30 Oct 2025

Exploring the gut-brain-immune axis in neurodegeneration

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and multiple sclerosis (MS), represent a growing global health burden, particularly in aging populations.

28 Oct 2025