Density of ghrelin-producing cells is higher in the gastric mucosa of morbidly obese patients

Ghrelin is a peptide mainly secreted by gastric mucosa and has been implicated in the regulation of eating behavior and weight balance. Obesity and Helicobacter pylori infection are associated with changes in plasma ghrelin levels.This study was designed to evaluate the density of ghrelin-producing cells in the gastric mucosa of morbidly obese and dyspeptic non-obese patients, with and without H. pylori infection.Gastric biopsies of the antral and oxyntic mucosa were obtained from 50 morbidly obese patients (BMI >40, 21 with metabolic syndrome (MS)), 17 dyspeptic overweight subjects (25