Research paper
Frecka JM, Mattes RD. Possible entrainment of ghrelin to habitual meal patterns in humans. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2008 Mar;294(3):G699-707. doi:10.1152/ajpgi.00448.2007
Why we cite it
Original research study investigating whether plasma ghrelin concentrations synchronize with habitual eating schedules. Lean and obese participants following either short intermeal intervals (2.5–3.5 hours between breakfast and lunch) or long intermeal intervals (5.5–6.5 hours) had blood sampled over 8 hours while eating meals matched to their customary patterns. Peak ghrelin concentrations differed significantly by group and occurred before each group’s respective lunch time. Ghrelin concentrations directly correlated with subjective hunger. The key insight: ghrelin rises in anticipation of habitual meal times rather than triggering feeding de novo — reframing ghrelin from a simple “hunger hormone” to a meal anticipation signal entrained to eating patterns. This means hunger is partly clock-driven and conditioned, not purely driven by energy depletion. Referenced by 1 companion and 1 companion-review.
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