Ghrelin is recently discovered peptide hormone involved in the regulation of growth hormone secretion as well as in the regulation of food intake and energetic homeostasis. The study was aimed to describe the changes in ghrelin serum levels in patients with anorexia nervosa and its relationship to some other studied parameters. Sixteen women patients with anorexia nervosa and thirteen healthy women of comparable age were examined clinically and blood samples were taken for estimation of serum levels of ghrelin, leptin, soluble leptin receptor, IGF-I, IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3. Ghrelin serum levels were significantly increased in the group of patients with anorexia nervosa (p < 0,05). In contrary, serum leptin levels were decreased in the group of patients with anorexia nervosa (p < 0,01). Serum ghrelin levels did not correlate with any other of studied parameters with exception of BMI. We can conclude that serum ghrelin levels are increased in patients with anorexia nervosa and their increase fails to significantly stimulate food intake in this group of patients.

        Key words: Ghrelin - Leptin - Nutrition - Anorexia nervosa