Association between des-acyl ghrelin at fasting and predictive index of muscle derangement, metabolic markers and eating disorders: a cross-sectional study in overweight and obese adults

Background: This study aimed to analyse the impact of des-acyl and acyl ghrelin (AG) on a wide range of muscular and metabolic markers and in order to discover the possible relationships and interactions of des-acylated ghrelin (DAG) on eating disorders. Materials & Methods: A total of 88 subjects (64 women and 24 men, with a mean age of 43 years and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 30.20 +/- 3.27 kg/m(2)) were enrolled in the cross-sectional study. Results: The findings showed that for each unit of increase of free fat mass index (FFMI), levels of DAG decreased by -41.11 pg/mL (p < 0.05). Moreover, similar associations with DAG were found for insulin (beta = -30.67; p < 0.001), leptin (beta = -0.64; p < 0.05), body weight (beta = -14.36; p < 0.001), and free fat mass (FFM) (beta = -30.67; p < 0.001). In addition, associations were found between DAG and resting energy expenditure (REE) (beta = -0.84; p = 0.05) and the binge eating scale (BES) in which a unit increase of the BES score Q3 (depression) correlated with a decrease of DAG levels (beta = -9.98; p = 0.08). Further, a unit increase of AG/DAG ratio correspond with an increase in body weight (beta = 12.20; p < 0.05), BMI (beta = 4.70; p < 0.05) and fat mass (beta = 7.30; p < 0.05). However, the AG/DAG ratio was not associated with FFMI (beta = 2.61; p = 0.165) and FFML/BMI (beta = -0,064; p = 0.625). Conclusion: This study suggests that higher levels of DAG at fasting are indices of poor muscle mass, insulin resistance and depression.