Ghrelin is a peptide hQrmone secreted by the stomach , and thought to be involved in the regulation of eating behavior and energy metabolism . On the other hand , after oral surgical operation , some patients are adapted to gastro − nasal tube nutrition . This nutrition form is similar to the way of edentulous people because of no mastication . Then , to investigate whether the nutrition forrn affects plasma ghrelin concentration , we compared plasma ghrelin concentrations of inpatients at

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... ary eating before operation with that at gastro −nasal tube nutrition after operation . The subjects of investigation were five female and one male ( average age 53. O years old ) . The level of plasma ghrelin before breakfast at gastro − nasal tube nutrition was significantly lower than that at ordinary eating ( ghrelin before breakfast at gastro − nasal tube nutrition 113. 了± 42. 5 ( mean ± SD ) fmo1 / ml vs ghrelin before breakfast at ordinary eating 175. 5± 72. 8 fmol / ml , p < G, 05) . In two hours after breakfast , the level of ghrelin decreased , and the level of ghrelin befQre breakfast at gastro − nasal tube nutrition was equal to that in two hours after breakfast at ordinary eating . The nutrition form by Gastro −nasal tube posses the mechanism suppressing ghrelin secretion , and therefore , it is suggested that nutrition without