Ghrelin levels are suppressed and show a blunted response to oral glucose in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

The study by Barber et al. from 2008 found that women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have significantly lower fasting serum ghrelin levels and a blunted ghrelin response to an oral glucose load compared to controls. Involving 50 women with PCOS and 28 controls, the research showed that these differences persisted even after adjusting for insulin resistance, fat mass, and age. The study also revealed a significant negative correlation between fasting serum ghrelin and insulin resistance in the PCOS group. These findings suggest that ghrelin dysregulation may contribute to the development of obesity in women with PCOS by potentially affecting the satiating effect of food and leading to overeating. The study highlights the need for further research into the mechanisms behind ghrelin regulation abnormalities in PCOS.