Hemp and eating disorders

Hemp has been used to stimulate appetite for centuries. It is used to increase the weight of the body to deal with anorexia and other eating disorders. Modern scientific evidence tells us that the relationship endocannabinoid system with anorexia and similar illnesses even deeper than previously thought.

Studies of the role of cannabis in the eating disorders

While studying hemp as a possible remedy for anorexia and other eating disorders more than one decade, the results are not always encouraging. For example, double-blind, crossover study, published in 1983, evaluated the effect of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), compared with an active placebo, namely diazepam appetite in patients with anorexia nervosa and concluded that the use of THC has not led to an increase in caloric intake or overall weight gain. In addition, he called "significant mental health problems" in a few patients.

However, a recent double-blind crossover study found that a synthetic analog of THC, dronabinol, has led to a "small but significant" weight gain in women with anorexia nervosa compared to placebo, with no significant negative psychotropic effects.

Several studies examining anorexia nervosa in animal models have also found that the use of THC and other agonists of the cannabinoid receptors leads to weight gain and increased appetite. For example, one study showed that mice with anorexia induced activity, daily intake of 0.5 mg THC "reduced survival" in the experimental group, but improved meal survivors. Daily intake of a synthetic analogue of anandamide, OMDM-2 (3 mg / kg), has improved the meal did not affect the survival rate, but the effect was not sufficient to prevent weight loss.

Hemp as an appetite stimulant

Although very little research has been specifically dedicated to the action of cannabis on appetite in patients with anorexia nervosa, a number of scientific papers was devoted to the study of anorexia, which can suffer with cancer, AIDS and hepatitis.

Phase II study, conducted in 1994, studied the effect of THC on appetite in cancer patients and found that 13 of the 18 members THC improved appetite and prevent significant adverse effects. For this reason, hemp was named effective and safe stimulation of appetite in cancer patients. However, a recent double-blind, placebo-controlled study, conducted in 2006, found no significant difference in the quality of life in patients taking cannabis extract, THC or a placebo.

Although the results of the studies are rather contradictory, there is no doubt that the endocannabinoid system plays an important role in controlling appetite and food intake. Existing scientific data have given scientists a better understanding of the hidden mechanisms of the endocannabinoid system involved in the regulation of important biological processes such as appetite, food intake and satiety.

Endocannabinoid system (EC) and the regulation of food

As expanding our understanding of the EC, it clarified the role it plays in the development and control of diseases such as anorexia.

The study, published in 2005, found a significant increase in the body's own cannabinoid, anandamide, in patients with anorexia nervosa and overeating. At the same time, these levels were normal in patients with a diagnosis of bulimia. Scientists have also discovered that the level of anandamide inversely proportional to the level of ghrelin, another substance regulating appetite and food intake.

Relations between grelinovoy and endocannabinoid signaling systems have repeatedly been studied and it was found that THC effectively replaces ghrelin in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The role of ghrelin is that it stimulates the peripheral nervous system, and through it - the brain, causing the feeling of hunger with an empty stomach. Ghrelin If for some reason is not produced (some substances used for chemotherapy, suppress the production of ghrelin), there is no feeling of hunger even on empty stomach, and the patient develops anorexia.

Given that anandamide performs many biological functions of THC, it is not surprising that its levels are elevated in patients with overeating - excess emissions anandamide stimulates the appetite. It is not clear why people with anorexia nervosa, the level of anandamide also increased, but at the same time they do not feel the gain of appetite (or may ignore it).

Can disorder ES lead to anorexia ?

Endocannabinoid system not only plays a fundamental role in the regulation of appetite and food intake, but also - as the modern science says - anorexia nervosa and similar diseases may actually be caused by an imbalance of EC and adjust the direction of cannabinoid therapy.

In a recent study, the researchers studied the brains of patients with anorexia and bulimia, and compared them with the brains of healthy women using positron emission tomography (PET). They found that in anorexia nervosa increased overall density of CB1 receptors in the cortical and subcortical regions of the brain, and for bulimia and anorexia significantly increased CB1 receptor density in specific regions of the brain known as the insular cortex. Level cannabinoids produced by the organism was significantly reduced in patients with bulimia, and anorexia, especially in the insular cortex.

The researchers hypothesized that patients with anorexia increase in the total density of CB1 receptors is a compensatory mechanism for under-active endocannabinoid system. They also noted that the increase in the number of receptors in the insular cortex of patients with anorexia and bulimia may be associated with a dysfunction of deep pleasure and reward, and the insular cortex is known to play a fundamental role in these processes.

Also repeatedly investigated the possibility that a genetic mutation resulting in changes in the endocannabinoid system may increase the risk of developing eating disorders such as anorexia. A study published in 2009 concluded that a single nucleotide polymorphism in the gene single nucleotide CNR1, cannabinoid receptor encoding expression of type I and a second polymorphism in the gene that controls the synthesis of FAAH, substances that deplete the anandamide, may contribute to the risk of developing anorexia nervosa and bulimia .

Cannabis anorexic

Several studies have examined the prevalence of substance abuse among people with eating disorders, and it was found that the percentage who use cannabis in this group above, but the same applies to alcohol and cigarettes and many other substances. From illegal substances People with eating disorders often use marijuana, but this is not surprising, since hemp - generally most common among illicit substances.

No one tried to explore the question of whether cannabis use lead to anorexia or facilitate patient refusal of food, but something that indicates that cannabis can suppress appetite in some circumstances. In fact, in ancient China, hemp was used for appetite suppression for centuries.

However, scientific evidence suggests that these effects depend on the presence of high levels of cannabidiol (CBD) and THC-B, ie, cannabinoids, which have properties to reduce appetite. A study in the British pharmaceutical company GW Pharmaceuticals (created cannabinoid oral spray Sativex), showed that the two cannabinoid suppresses appetite in mice.

The effect is due to the fact that these two substances are, respectively, an antagonist and an inverse agonist of cannabinoid receptors, ie, block the action of agonists like anandamide and THC. GW Pharmaceuticals filed in 2008 a patent application for a drug that suppresses appetite, on the basis of these materials, but it is not clear whether this drug is developed.

In any case, it is unlikely that patients with anorexia use cannabis with a high content of CBD and THC-B compared to THC, such as the composition of the different technical (nepsihoaktivnaya) hemp. However, if it is confirmed the hypothesis that anorexia is caused by a failure in the endocannabinoid system, it becomes clear why patients with eating disorders using psychoactive hemp - it gives them a subjective relief, because they have reduced levels of analog THC, anandamide, or he can not effectively used by the body.

Will spend a lot more research to understand how the endocannabinoid system is involved in the development and control of diseases such as anorexia nervosa. However, it is now clear that its role is fundamental and that the expansion of our knowledge will develop targeted therapy of anorexia, bulimia and similar disorders.