RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Peptide YY (PYY), a gut peptide, has recently been shown to inhibit appetite. The role of this peptide in elderly nutritionally-compromised patients with femoral neck fracture (FNF) has not been investigated. In this study, we investigated the longitudinal pattern of PYY levels during hospital stay and investigated the postprandial PYY response to a standard meal in patients with FNF and matched controls. METHODS: Fasting plasma concentrations of the PYY were measured on days 1, 4, 7, 14, 21 and 28 or on discharge from the hospital in 17 white patients with FNF. On the second week of stay, 13 patients with FNF consumed a standard breakfast following an overnight fasting. One fasting sample and one 45-minute postmeal sample were collected. A control group was made up of 17 matched healthy elderly patients. RESULTS: PYY concentrations were increased significantly over the length of hospital stay. Results of the test breakfast suggested a significant and exaggerated post-prandial PYY response, despite a smaller energy intake being consumed. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows PYY concentrations are increased during hospitalization and their post-prandial release exaggerated in this group of vulnerable patients, and suggests a role in the etiology of reduced appetite in this patient group.