ghrelin
/ˈɡrɛlɪn
/noun [mass noun] Biochemistry
A peptide hormone, produced predominantly in the stomach, that stimulates the secretion of growth hormone from the pituitary gland and increases appetite: their blood was tested for ghrelin, the hormone that triggers the feeling of hunger [as modifier]: ghrelin levels rise when you diet...
- It increases the amount of ghrelin, a stomach hormone that drives appetite, and also decreases the amount of leptin, which makes your body believe it is starving.
- The appetite hormone ghrelin is produced mainly in the stomach and is thought to regulate body weight.
- One hormone, ghrelin, which triggers appetite in humans, was found at higher levels in people who regularly underslept.
Origin
1990s: from gh, representing the initial letters of growth hormone, + rel, fromreleasing, + -in1.