Research indicates our body's own cannabis-like substances, named anandamide and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (endocannabinoids), help keep our metabolism balanced. Studies show the difference in the state of affairs in the Endocannabinoid system and these endocannabinoids when this balance is disrupted.
One study we'll go over today focuses on a particular spot in the brain that controls hunger and how blocking specific receptors, known as CB1 receptors, in animal experiments can lead to weight loss and better metabolic health. The study suggests that stopping these receptors from working could help treat obesity and related health issues by directly affecting fat cells and liver cells, not just by changing eating behavior.
This review explores the 2007 Research Study entitled Understanding Metabolic Homeostasis and Imbalance: What Is the Role of the Endocannabinoid System (1), which overviews the role of endogenous endocannabinoids (ECs), anandamide (2) and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (3) in maintaining metabolic homeostasis and contributing to the imbalance when dysregulated.
We highlight the significance of the cannabinoid-1 (CB1) receptors in appetite regulation (4) and their involvement in the orexigenic action within the lateral hypothalamus.
The research paper examines the effects of pharmacologic blockade or genetic ablation of CB1 receptors in animal models, noting the implications for weight loss and metabolic improvements (5).
Today, we discuss the direct peripheral and central effects of CB1 blockade on fat metabolism, including the impact on adipocytes, hepatocytes, and skeletal muscle (6) and the potential of CB1 receptor blockade as a strategy for managing obesity and its metabolic consequences (7).
A Fast Analytical Breakdown
Analysis: The study under consideration delves into the intricate role of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in regulating metabolic homeostasis and its potential contribution to metabolic imbalances when dysregulated. The research emphasizes the endogenous endocannabinoids (ECs), anandamide, and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol as critical elements in the leptin-regulated neural circuitry that governs appetite regulation.
Findings: The study highlights the orexigenic action of ECs by activating cannabinoid-1 (CB1) receptors in the lateral hypothalamus. In animal models of obesity, the pharmacologic blockade or genetic ablation of CB1 receptors leads to significant outcomes: reduced food intake, sustained weight loss, and improved metabolic profiles.
Critical Review: The research presented by Dr. George Kunos offers substantial evidence on the role of the ECS in appetite and metabolism. However, the study's findings are predominantly based on animal models, necessitating cautious extrapolation to human physiology. The research recognizes the complexity of the ECS's influence, extending beyond central appetite suppression to include peripheral impacts on fat metabolism in organs such as the liver and skeletal muscle.
Conclusion: This analysis reaffirms the pivotal role of the ECS in metabolic processes and its potential therapeutic applications. The study by Kunos et al.at the time was a stepping stone toward understanding the ECS's involvement in obesity and metabolic disorders and highlights the need for further clinical trials.
-Mike Robinson, Global Cannabis Educator and Creator of ECS Balance Control
Note from The Researcher OG:
It's both fantastic and deplorable that we're at the end of 2023, and a firm grasp of the Endocannabinoid System is still not within the reach of most medical professionals. Despite studies like this from 2007, most doctors still are elusive about cannabinoids and don't differentiate much between the plants and our bodies when I talk 1:1 with them outside of the Cannabis Industry or the Scientific world. It's so alarming that in my medical file, a specialty doctor in oncology misspelled Cannabinoid and then corrected herself using a "?" after the word; then, she asked me what it meant.
While many are uptight that Western Medicine and 'Big Pharma' will take over Cannabis - this article should be enough to show anyone reading it that many of us self-taught people without initials after our names have far more knowledge than medical professionals - on a subject that ALL medical professionals should be highly knowledgeable in.
So take things in stride as we look at rescheduling or de-scheduling Cannabis in the US someday soon.
References:
1.) Kunos G Understanding Metabolic Homeostasis and Imbalance: What Is the Role of the Endocannabinoid System? American Journal of Medicine, 120 (9 SUPPL. 1) , pp. S18-S24. (2007)
2.) T. Sugiura et al.2-Arachidonoylglycerol: a possible endogenous cannabinoid receptor ligand in brain Biochem Biophys Res Commun (1995)
3.) R. Mechoulam et al.Identification of an endogenous 2-monoglyceride, present in canine gut, that binds to cannabinoid receptors
Biochem Pharmacol (1995)
4.) Y.H. Jo et al.Integration of endocannabinoid and leptin signaling in an appetite-related neural circuit Neuron(2005)
5.) A. Pocai et al.A brain-liver circuit regulates glucose homeostasis Cell Metab(2005)
6.) F. Diraison et al.Differences in the regulation of adipose tissue and liver lipogenesis by carbohydrates in humans J Lipid Res(2003)
7.) H. Sampath et al.Stearoyl CoA-desaturase-1 mediates the pro-lipogenic effects of dietary saturated fat
J Biol Chem(2007)
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