Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a group of metabolic abnormalities that enhance the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Ghrelin and obestatin are gut hormones with similar origin that have pivotal roles in food intake and energy metabolism. The aim of present study was to investigate the association between serum ghrelin/obestatin ratio and the components of MetS in women.
 
Materials & Methods: This study was conducted on the total of 86 women, including 43 female patients with MetS and 43 healthy women as the control group. The participants were selected through convenience sampling method among women with similar body mass index and the age range of 30-50 years. Anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, fasting serum obestatin, ghrelin, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoproteins (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins (LDL) cholesterol, fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin, and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) were measured. Moreover, this study investigated the association between serum levels of ghrelin/obestatin ratio and MetS components.
 
Findings: Serum levels of ghrelin/obestatin ratio was significantly lower in MetS group than control(P=0.036). Moreover, ghrelin/obestatin ratio was positively associated with serum HDL-C levels (β=0.273, P=0.016). However, this ratio was not associated with other measured variables, including waist circumference, waist to hip ratio, blood pressure, FBS, TG, TC, LDL -C, insulin and HOMA-IR (P>0.05).
 
Discussion & Conclusions: Considering lower levels of ghrelin/obestatin ratio in women with MetS and also positive association of ghrelin/obestatin ratio and serum levels of HDL, as an important component of MetS diagnosis. Accordingly, it seems the increase in ratio can lessen the progression of MetS complications, such as cardio-vascular disease by HDL increment in women.