Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[CarolS]

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/545148?src=mp

[frenata]

This is members only access. They say an account is free -- is it, Carol? Are there any hidden catches?

I used to be a Medline junkie, back in the day. But I'm not as much of a hypochondriac now 

[CarolS]

Oh sorry - yes it's free.  Here's the article:

'Endocannabinoids -- the Brain's Own Marijuana -- May Be Linked to the Metabolic Syndrome
Posted 10/09/2006
George T. Griffing, MD
The metabolic syndrome is a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors, including abdominal obesity, atherogenic dyslipidemia, elevated blood pressure, and insulin resistance, associated with a prothrombotic and proinflammatory state. It is a major health problem in the United States and elsewhere, but we still don't understand its etiology.

Recent studies suggest that endocannabinoids, which are the brain's own marijuana, may be an etiologic factor linked to the metabolic syndrome.[1]

New data show that the human brain makes its own "chemical marijuana" in the form of 2 compounds: anandamide, a Sanskrit word meaning "bliss," and 2-AG (2-arachidonoylglycerol).[2]

These endocannabinoids are unique since they are synthesized on demand and work in a reverse direction, from postsynaptic neurons where they are synthesized to presynaptic neurons where they bind to receptors.

Two specific endocannabinoid receptors have been identified. These receptors are in high concentrations in the brain, liver, muscle, gut, and adipose tissue. Generally, these receptors appear to be located in areas of the body responsible for modulating energy balance, feeding behavior, hepatic lipogenesis, and glucose homeostasis.[3]

Endocannabinoid stimulation favors metabolic processes that lead to weight gain, lipogenesis, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and impaired glucose tolerance, and overactivity of this system has been found in human obesity and in animal models of genetic and diet-induced obesity.

Treatment with a specific endocannabinoid inhibitor, rimonobant, in clinical trials in human obesity has not only reduced excess body weight, but also lowered blood pressure in hypertensive patients, improved insulin sensitivity, corrected dyslipidemia, and decreased the prevalence of metabolic syndrome.[4]

It is remarkable that marijuana components, which have been used for centuries by man, have led to the unfolding story of the effects of endocannabinoids and a possible answer to the metabolic syndrome.

That's my opinion. I'm Dr. George Griffing, Professor of Medicine at St. Louis University and Editor-in-Chief of Internal Medicine for eMedicine.

Sign Up now for a free monthly email that brings you the top features from MedGenMed.

Readers are encouraged to respond to George Lundberg, MD, Editor of MedGenMed, for the editor's eyes only or for possible publication via email: glundberg@medscape.net
References

   1. Pagotto U, Marsicano G, Cota D, Lutz B, Pasquali R. The emerging role of the endocannabinoid system in endocrine regulation and energy balance. Endocr Rev. 2006;27:73-100. Abstract
   2. Devane WE, Hanus L, Breuer A, et al. Isonation and structure of a brain constituent that binds to the cannabinoid receptor. Science. 1992:258:1946-1949. Abstract
   3. Di Marzo V, Matias I. Endocannabinoid control of food intake and energy balance. Nat Neurosci. 2005;8:585-589. Abstract
   4. Pi-Sunyer FX, Aronne LJ, Heshmati HM, Devin J, Rosenstock J; RIO-North America Study Group. Effect of rimonabant, a cannabinoid-1 receptor blocker, on weight and cardiometabolic risk factors in overweight or obese patients: RIO-North America: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2006;295:761-775. Abstract


George T. Griffing, MD, Professor of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri; Editor-in-Chief of Internal Medicine for eMedicine.com

Author's email address: geotgrif@swbell.net

Disclosure: George T. Griffing, MD, has disclosed that he is a consultant for sanofi-aventis.

[frenata]

Ah. Thank you, CarolS.

So, let me get this straight, you get rid of a brain chemical named bliss and you lose weight and your blood pressure goes down and...what? What happens to your mood? Presumably you're making this chemical for a reason. And I'm guessing the reason is bliss.

Man, I hate it when they don't answer the obvious question...

[CarolS]

I thought (I think too much) that is why I overeat sometimes - seeking that bliss (now we know it's a chemical produced by the body) that comes from eating when I have the munchies.  Except then i feel really sick after.  Sort of like having a hangover in the stomach.

[mulville]

hmmmm, I thought marijuana famously caused the munchies.

[CarolS]

That's what I'm saying - maybe overeating elicits this chemcial?

[frenata]

I think they're proposing it the other way around. The chemical, like marijuana, gives you the munchies.

The question is, does it also make you feel high? And, if so, would you be low without it? There has to be a reason we make it.

[CarolS]

I'm going to go read all the citations.  I swear though, sometimes I feel high when i eat a lot of chocolate, or cereal straight, or whatever, totally oblivious to how much is being consumed.  I don't feel it til i put the box down.  Then i feel totally sick.  SLD has knocked this out almost completely.