New Insight into the Role of Ghrelin and the FTO Gene in Obesity

Abstract

The alarming rise in prevalence of obesity, coupled with undesirable health effects and increase in morbidity as a result of co-occurrence of obesity with other diseases, makes it very important to fully investigate the role of gastrointestinal hormones and related factors, such as genetics. Hormones of the gastro-intestinal tract play important roles in the neuro-endocrine regulation of food intake and satiety after meals, therefore representing a significant part of the complicated process involved in the process of energy regulation. Ghrelin is a gut hormone that is produced by cells within the gastric fundus, and is a major regulator of body weight. Impairment in ghrelin secretion may, therefore be relevant in the pathogenesis of obesity. The recently discovered FTO gene is found to affect ghrelin secretion. In conclusion this paper aims to highlight the connection between ghrelin and the FTO gene in obesity. It reviews new findings on the role of ghrelin in obesity, in connection with the polymorphism in the obesity-related gene.