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16 Jun 2008
People suffering from depression may find relief with higher levels of what has been dubbed the 'hunger hormone', it has been claimed.
Experts in the US have said that those with increased levels of ghrelin in their body tend to be less anxious and depressed than others.
Ghrelin is released into the stomach when it is empty and helps to tell the brain that more food is needed.
A team of scientists at the UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, led by Dr Jeffrey Zigman, cut the amount of food eaten by a group of mice for ten days which saw the levels of ghrelin in their body increase by four times.
A second group of mice were allowed to eat as they pleased.
Dr Zigman said: "Our findings in mice suggest that chronic stress causes ghrelin levels to go up and that behaviours associated with depression and anxiety decrease when ghrelin levels rise.
"An unfortunate side effect, however, is increased food intake and body weight."
Researchers say it may be possible to use the hunger hormone to help control food intake for overweight patients or increase the amount of food eaten by those who often struggle to consume food such as those with cancer.
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