Alcohol Intake and Its Effect on Some Appetite-Regulating Hormones in Man: Influence of Gastroprotection with Sucralfate

Abstract

Background. Alcohol stimulates appetite. Ghrelin, obestatin, glucagon-like peptide 1 and leptin are putative mediators. Objective. We studied whether alcohol ingestion affects serum levels of these peripheral hormones, and if gastroprotective sucralfate prevents such an effect. Materials and methods. Ten participants were investigated on four occasions. On one alcohol was ingested; on another alcohol was given after pretreatment with sucralfate; on a third water was ingested; and on a fourth sucralfate was ingested followed by water. Serum hormones and ethanol concentrations were determined. Results. The ghrelin and leptin levels fell after ingestion of alcohol, whereas the obestatin and GLP-1 levels remained unchanged. Sucralfate did not affect any of the basal four hormone levels, nor the ghrelin or leptin responses to alcohol. Conclusions. An appetite-stimulating effect of alcohol is hardly mediated by any of the hormones studied in this investigation, as the GLP-1 and obestatin levels were unaffected by alcohol, the ghelin level decreased, and leptin – although declining after alcohol – has not previously been found to have short-term inhibitory effect on hunger.

• Alcohol
• Ghrelin
• Glucagon-like peptide 1
• Leptin
• Sucralfate

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study has been supported by the Erling-Persson Family Foundation and the Danish Medical Research council. The authors thank Lotta Larsson, Christina Häll, Inga-Lena Wivall, Elvi Sandberg, Lena Sandberg, and Ulla Pira for skillful experimental assistance and excellent laboratory work. Agneta Hilding is gratefully acknowledged for the statistical support and Per Hellström for the valuable advice concerning the GLP-1 determinations.

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.