(Photo credit: Releaf).
A new study published in The Journal of Physiology found that daily exposure to THC and whole-cannabis extracts can reduce body weight and fat mass, with extracts also improving glucose control.
Researchers from the University of California examined the effects of THC and cannabis oil extracts in an animal model of diet-induced obesity, which is tied to metabolic problems such as excess fat accumulation, insulin resistance and disrupted glucose homeostasis.
For the study, male mice were fed either a high-fat, high-sugar diet or a low-fat, no-sugar diet for 60 days. After 30 days, the mice were given daily doses of THC or cannabis extracts matched for THC content for another 30 days.
The study found that both THC and cannabis extracts reduced body weight and fat mass in obese mice. However, the extracts appeared to have broader metabolic effects than THC alone.
According to the study, cannabis extracts, but not THC by itself, normalized glucose clearance in obese mice to levels seen in lean mice. Extracts were also more effective at restoring expression of adipokines, fat-derived hormones involved in appetite, insulin sensitivity and glucose regulation.
Researchers also found that THC and the extracts produced anti-adipogenic effects in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, a type of fat cell used in laboratory research, and altered cellular energy metabolism.
The authors said the findings suggest chronic cannabinoid exposure may improve metabolic function and glucose regulation in diet-induced obesity, in part by helping restore impaired adipoinsular axis function.
“In conclusion, this study demonstrates that chronic cannabinoid exposure, particularly with cannabis extract, reduces body weight, improves glucose homeostasis and normalizes adipose tissue function in a mouse model of DIO”, concludes the study. “These effects are accompanied by changes in eCB system activity, expression of genes associated with metabolic processes in visceral adipose tissue and dose-dependent alterations in adipocyte bioenergetics. Our findings highlight the potential therapeutic value of cannabinoids in managing obesity and related metabolic disorders, though further research is needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms and translate these findings into clinical applications.”
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