In recent years, the context of cannabis use has shifted dramatically, with increasing legality and availability across the United States and a growing number of countries around the world. Hurrah!
Given the rising popularity of this trend, more research is being carried out on the likelihood of any health-related consequences of using cannabis with a focus on the youth.
An innovative study published in the American Journal of Medicine Open has brought forth some very interesting discoveries on the relationship between the use of cannabis and metabolic syndrome among adults between the ages of 18 and 25.
What is Metabolic Syndrome?
Metabolic Syndrome is not a single disease but a cluster of risk factors that, when occurring together, increase your danger for heart disease, stroke, and type two diabetes.
To be labeled with metabolic syndrome, a person must have at least three of the following five conditions:
–High blood pressure (above 130/85)
–High blood sugar (fasting glucose 100 mg/dL or higher)
–Large waist size (over 40 inches for men, 35 inches for women)
–High triglycerides (150 mg/dL or higher)
–Low “good” cholesterol (HDL below 40 mg/dL for men, 50 mg/dL for women)
Metabolic syndrome is really life-threatening since it increases heart disease risk twofold and multiplies the risk of contracting type 2 diabetes fivefold.
With the increasing prevalence of metabolic syndrome, especially among young adults, it is crucial to understand potential influencing factors for this public health risk.
The researchers examined data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study, 2009-2018, in which they evaluated emerging adults between the ages of 18 and 25 years.
This subgroup is more intriguing than the other groups of individuals because according to evidence, it is associated with the highest prevalence among the population that uses cannabis.
The study evaluated relationships between cannabis use and both metabolic syndrome and its single components, looking at ethnic and racial differences.
Unanticipated Results
The results of the study were quite revealing. To name a few basic facts:
Cannabis users currently were less likely to have metabolic syndrome. The applicable odds of metabolic syndrome were 42% lower among current cannabis users.
Additional Data by Race: The association of cannabis use with metabolic syndrome was shown to differ across race/ethnicity strata.
The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of metabolic syndrome for non-Hispanic Black current cannabis users compared to never-users was 78% lower.
Blood Pressure Variations
The effects of cannabis use on health indicators seem to vary among different racial and ethnic groups.
Here are some interesting findings:
- Blood Pressure:
- Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic current cannabis users had lower systolic blood pressure compared to non-users in their respective groups.
- This effect was not observed in other racial and ethnic categories.
- HDL (Good) Cholesterol:
- Among Non-Hispanic White and Non-Hispanic Black men, current cannabis users had significantly higher levels of HDL cholesterol than non-users.
- Body Mass Index (BMI):
- Overall, current cannabis users had a lower average BMI than non-users.
- This trend was particularly noticeable in non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black men and women.
These findings suggest that the health impacts of cannabis use may differ across racial and ethnic groups. However, more research is needed to understand the reasons behind these differences and their long-term implications.
What Might Explain These Findings?
The authors postulate that these differences are related to substrain effects for the endocannabinoid system.
The ECS is involved in the regulation of energy and metabolic homeostasis, and it is within this system that cannabinoids are most highly prevalent from cannabis.
Certain extracts of cannabis, for example, THC and CBD, have been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory properties, which indeed explain their potential in improvements pertaining to metabolic syndrome, bearing in mind that it is considered an inflammatory state.
However, what’s important to note here is that this study does not establish causation.
Because the data are cross-sectional, we can’t say with autonomy that cannabis use directly caused a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Instead, other things—like lifestyle differences between cannabis users and nonusers—might explain it better.
