Proper Appetite Signals Improve Immunity

Saturday, September 08, 2007 - Byron J. Richards, CCN

A new study shows that the hunger signal ghrelin, as well as leptin itself, enhance the ability of the thymus gland to properly maintain the healthy function of immune cells during aging.  The shrinking of the thymus gland during aging corresponds with a lack of immune cells that want to go out and get the job done.  Instead, there are too many arm-chair generals that would rather sit around and tell war stories than do anything meaningful. 

Ghrelin is an important message that comes from the stomach that signals appetite.  It is imbalanced in people who are overweight, giving false or improper signals leading to overconsumption of food.  Ghrelin is permanently reduced by gastric bypass surgery.  Ghrelin also triggers the release of growth hormone to repair the body.  You can learn more about ghrelin by reading chapter 25 in Mastering Leptin.

As with all hormones, ghrelin must operate at the right time and in the right amount – at which point it is a friend.  Balancing ghrelin automatically balances leptin – which can now be seen as an important part of age associated immunity.  A weak appetite signals gross immune incompetence, and an appetite too large also signals immune problems. 

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