Preclinical research at the University of California, Riverside sheds light on a phenomenon that has been observed for years but is little understood. In other words, despite cannabis’ well-known tendency to increase appetite, regular cannabis users tend to be lower in weight and have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
A team led by Nicholas V. DiPatrizio, a professor of biomedical science in the UCR School of Medicine, set out to investigate this apparent contradiction. Cannabis is typically associated with increased food intake known as “munchies,” but population studies consistently show that regular users have an improved metabolic profile compared to non-users.
The new discovery is physiology journalsuggesting that certain compounds within cannabis may play an important role in regulating metabolism.
Using a mouse model designed to mimic human dietary patterns, DiPatrizio and his team compared the effects of pure delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, to whole-plant cannabis extracts, which contain similar levels of THC, along with other natural compounds.
Both treatments led to significant weight loss in obese mice. However, the metabolic outcomes were dramatically different.
Mice treated with THC alone showed no improvement in glucose regulation, an important indicator of type 2 diabetes. Despite losing weight, these animals continued to exhibit impaired glucose homeostasis, a hallmark of diabetes.
In contrast, mice treated with whole cannabis extract not only lost weight but also experienced reversal of their metabolic disorders.
“This suggests that THC alone is not responsible for the metabolic benefits associated with cannabis use,” said DiPatrizio, director of the UCR Cannabinoid Research Center. “Other compounds in the plant also seem to play an important role.”
The researchers’ analysis points to a potential mechanism involved in communication between adipose tissue and the pancreas. In a healthy system, fat cells release signaling molecules that help regulate insulin secretion from the pancreas. In obesity and type 2 diabetes, this signaling is disrupted.
The study found that treatment with complete cannabis extract restores this pathway better than THC alone, allowing adipose tissue to send signals to the pancreas to more effectively regulate blood sugar levels.
The researchers stress that while the study results are promising, they do not necessarily support the use of cannabis as a treatment for metabolic diseases, given that further research is needed in preclinical and human studies.
“We’re not saying people should use cannabis to manage their weight or diabetes,” DiPatrizio said.
DiPatrizio aims to identify non-psychoactive cannabis compounds for targeted therapy that provide metabolic benefits without the intoxicating effects of THC. Future research will isolate and test individual compounds to identify the causative agent.
This study also highlights the importance of continued scientific research as cannabis use becomes more widespread and policies evolve.
“Clinicians, researchers, and policy makers should keep their eyes peeled and pay attention to this area,” DiPatrizio said. “An evidence-based approach is required to fully understand both the risks and potential benefits of cannabis and its components.”
DiPatrizio was joined in the study by Bryant Avalos, Martin Olmos, Courtney P. Wood, Camila Alvarez, Haley M. Reed, Parima Udonhorkul, and Theodore Garland Jr.
This research was funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health and the Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program administered by the University of California’s Office of the President.
sauce:
University of California, Riverside
Reference magazines:
