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Changes in Ghrelin Levels Following Bariatric Surgery: Review of the Literature

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Abstract

Obesity is a severe health issue that is a global epidemic. Bariatric surgery is an accepted, popular, and effective therapy for weight loss. Ghrelin, a peptide secreted primarily by the fundus cells of the stomach, has been found to impact body weight by its influence on appetite. Although numerous studies have investigated serum ghrelin levels following bariatric surgery, there is no solid agreement yet as to the direction or magnitude of its change, or even its impact on weight loss. Some studies have found an increase in ghrelin, some have found a decrease, and others have found no change in ghrelin following bariatric surgery. The purpose of this review was to establish the impact of ghrelin changes following bariatric surgery.

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, 45220, USA

    Kevin Tymitz & George Kerlakian

  2. E. Kenneth Hatton, MD, Institute for Research and Education, Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, 45220, USA

    Amy Engel, Sarah McDonough & Mary Pat Hendy

Authors
  1. Kevin Tymitz
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  2. Amy Engel
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  3. Sarah McDonough
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  4. Mary Pat Hendy
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  5. George Kerlakian
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Correspondence to Mary Pat Hendy.

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Tymitz, K., Engel, A., McDonough, S. et al. Changes in Ghrelin Levels Following Bariatric Surgery: Review of the Literature. OBES SURG 21, 125–130 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-010-0311-z

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