The association of serum nesfatin-1 and ghrelin levels with metabolic syndrome in patients with schizophrenia

• Published in: Psychiatry research 2018-03, Vol.261, p.45-49
• Main Authors: Ünal, Kubranur, Yüksel, Rabia Nazik, Turhan, Turan, Sezer, Sevilay, Yaylaci, Elif Tatlidil
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ghrelin; Metabolic Syndrome; Nesfatin-1; Schizophrenia; Schizophrenia treatment
• ISSN: 0165-1781; 1872-7123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.12.041

Nesfatin-1 and ghrelin are two hormones which has opposite effects and play role in food intake. This study was planned on the idea that both metabolic syndrome and psychiatric disorders are associated with nesfatin-1 and ghrelin. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the levels of ghrelin and nesfatin-1 in patients with schizophrenia, by taking confounding factor as the metabolic syndrome (MS). 55 patients with schizophrenia and 33 healthy controls were included in the study.11 out of the 55 patients (%20) has MS. Serum ghrelin and nesfatin-1 levels of schizophrenia patients with MS have been compared with both healthy controls and schizophrenia patients without MS. Patients with schizophrenia had significantly higher serum nesfatin-1 levels compared to healthy controls. But serum ghrelin levels was not different in both groups. Serum nesfatin-1 concentrations were significantly higher in the schizophrenia patients with MS (10.51–350.8pg/ml) with respect to the healthy control group (4.86–68.91pg/ml). There was no significant statistical difference between the three groups in terms of ghrelin levels. Our findings suggests that, MS presence also contributed to significantly high levels of nesfatin-1 level. Nesfatin-1 may have a part in a novel studies regarding the treatment of schizophrenia and its metabolic effects. •Nesfatin-1 is a new satiety factor which plays a role in hunger management and is thought to have anorexic and antihyperlipidemic effects.•Ghrelin increases hunger, nesfatin-1 decreases it.•We found higher nesfatin-1 levels in patients with schizophrenia.•Ghrelin levels were not different in patients with schizophrenia compared to controls.•An association between positive psychotic symptoms and nesfatin levels found in our study.•Positive psychotic symptoms may have different effects on eating patterns and metabolic reactions compared to negative psychotic symptoms.