What happens to the levels of ghrelin during periods of fasting?

During periods of fasting, the levels of ghrelin, which is often referred to as the "hunger hormone," tend to increase. Ghrelin is produced primarily in the stomach and plays a key role in signaling hunger to the brain. When the body is in a fasting state, it detects a decrease in food intake and responds by elevating ghrelin levels, which stimulates appetite and encourages food-seeking behavior.

This physiological response is part of the body's natural mechanisms to maintain energy balance and ensure that nutrients are consumed when they are in short supply. Understanding this relationship between ghrelin and fasting is important for anyone studying nutrition and how the body regulates hunger, making the identification of increased ghrelin during fasting a critical concept in nutritional science.