Anorexia of ageing is associated with elevated fasted and lower post-prandial ghrelin, independent of ghrelin O-acyltransferase

• Published in: Appetite 2024-05, Vol.196, p.107259-107259, Article 107259
• Main Authors: Holliday, Adrian, Warner, Jordan, Hulston, Carl J., Corfe, Bernard M., Crabtree, Daniel R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Appetite; Gut hormones; Hunger; Malnutrition; Older adults
• ISSN: 0195-6663; 1095-8304
• DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107259

The role of ghrelin metabolism in anorexia of ageing is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine acyl-ghrelin, total ghrelin, and ghrelin O-acyltransferase concentrations when fasted and in responses to feeding in older adults exhibiting anorexia of ageing. Twenty-five older adults (OA; 15f, 74 ± 7 years, 24.5 kg·m−2) and twelve younger adults (YA; 6f, 21 ± 2 years, 24.4 kg·m−2) provided a fasted measure of subjective appetite and fasted blood sample (0 min) before consuming a standardised porridge breakfast meal (450 kcal). Appetite was measured every 30 min for 240 min and blood was sampled at 30, 60, 90, 120, 180 and 240 min while participants rested. At 240 min, an ad libitum pasta-based lunch meal was consumed. Older adults were identified as those with healthy appetite (HA-OA) or low appetite (LA-OA), based on habitual energy intake, self-report appetite, BMI, and ad libitum lunch intake. YA ate more at lunch (1108 ± 235 kcal) than HA-OA (653 ± 133 kcal, p = 0.007) and LA-OA (369 ± 168 kcal; p