Frail older people have less of the hunger hormone in their blood even before they eat, which might make them less interested in food.

Scientific Claim

Frail older adults have lower fasting ghrelin concentrations than nonfrail older adults, suggesting a baseline disruption in hunger hormone regulation linked to frailty.

Original Statement

“Frailty was also associated with lower fasting ghrelin concentrations.”

From study:Effect of age and frailty on ghrelin and cholecystokinin responses to a meal test.

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

overstated

Study Design Support

Design cannot support claim

Appropriate Language Strength

association

Can only show association/correlation

Assessment Explanation

The term 'associated' is used in the abstract, but the claim as written implies a direct biological link. Verb strength must be reduced to association due to observational design.

More Accurate Statement

“Frail older adults have lower fasting ghrelin concentrations than nonfrail older adults, which is associated with frailty status.”

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Effect of age and frailty on ghrelin and cholecystokinin responses to a meal test.

Cross-Sectional Study

Human

2009 May

The study found that older adults who are frail have less of the 'hunger hormone' (ghrelin) in their blood when they haven't eaten, compared to healthier older adults, suggesting their bodies don't signal hunger the same way.

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Effect of age and frailty on ghrelin and cholecystokinin responses to a meal test.

Score: 32

DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.2008.27076

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