Research suggests potential for treating liver disease with the hormone Ghrelin

Most of the chronic conditions that people have to manage on a daily basis, such as liver disease, have no cure, except an entire transplant of a particular organ – like the liver.  There are many treatment options available to manage the disease, but nothing that will counter all of the symptoms, restoring a person to good health, able to tackle daily tasks and even career responsibilities.  Although that outlook may seem bleak, new research out of Spain indicates that a naturally occurring hormone in the human body may reduce liver damage, inflammation, and possibly prevent liver disease from occurring or worsening.  Specifically, the study found that the growth hormone, ghrelin, is produced in the stomach and protects various organs, including the heart and intestines.

The Spanish researchers were interested to see what effect, if any, the hormone had on liver fibrosis, which is often a result of liver disease and can only be corrected through a liver transplant.  The research team created liver fibrosis in rats and then provided them with the hormone, ghrelin.  They found that the rats with the hormone showed reduced fibrogenic cells, had reduced inflammation and oxidative stress, and had little to no liver damage.  An article on UPI.com noted that the lead researcher, Dr. Ramon Bataller stated, “Our aim was to determine if recombinant ghrelin could regulate the formation of fibrous tissue associated with chronic liver damage.”  Further, he reported, “In our study, we demonstrate that recombinant ghrelin regulates the fibrogenic response of the liver to acute and chronic disease.”

This is a hopeful finding, in that this study may have found a naturally occuring hormone that could be used to treat those suffering from liver disease and fibrosis.  Of course, as with most studies, more research will be needed to ascertain how the hormone actually impacts humans with liver disease and fibrosis.  One of the most important factors to point out, however, is that in order for this therapy to work effectively, an early diagnosis is paramount.  If you exhibit symptoms of liver disease, you should discuss them with your doctor.  Only with a correct diagnosis will you be able to get the treatment you need and hopefully, in the future, this hormone therapy will prevent any scarring, inflammation, or liver fibrosis to occur.  This would absolutely help to save you from a possible transplant, advanced liver disease or cancer, or more invasive treatment options.