Humor-Associated Laughter Affects Appetite Hormones

We have previously shown that repetitious “mirthful laughter” (Laughercise), like physical exercise (PE), decreases stress hormones (cortisol & catecholamines), enhances immune activity (NK cell cytotoxicity, B‐cells, activated T‐cells, immunoglobulins, CD4/CD8 ratio), and lowers cholesterol & systolic blood pressure (Berk, 2001, 2009). Additionally, PE can modulate the appetite hormones leptin (decrease) and ghrelin (increases) immediate post‐PE (Jurimae, 2007). Therefore, the objective was to compare the response of 14 healthy individuals who viewed a 20 min videos, humorous vs. distressing (cross‐over design 1 wk apart), and measure leptin and ghrelin levels 1 wk before study (base), pre‐ (PR‐V) and post‐viewing (PO‐V). Friedman's ANOVA and Wilcoxon Signed Ranks tests were used for statistical analysis. Leptin decreased from base to PR‐V −12% (p=0.02), base to PO‐V −15% (p=0.03), and PR‐V to PO‐V −4% (p=0.03) for the humor group. Ghrelin decreased from base to PR‐V −11% (p=0.05) (anticipatory effect), increased base to PO‐V 9.0% (p=0.03), and PR‐V to PO‐V 52% (p=0.02). There was no significant change with the distress video. Laughercise appears to modulate and may optimize the appetite hormones leptin and ghrelin similar to PE. This may have clinical relevance for those where PE is difficult, the handicap, depressed or elderly individual/patient. Further research is needed to elaborate these data.