Habitual cannabis use is associated with altered cardiac mechanics and arterial stiffness, but not endothelial function in young healthy smokers

Association between lifetime cannabis use and arterial stiffness in a middle-aged general population

BACKGROUND

No studies have investigated the association between arterial stiffness index (ASI) and cannabis use. The purpose of this study is to examine sex-stratified associations of cannabis use and ASI levels in a middle-aged general population.

METHODS

Cannabis use of 46 219 volunteers of the middle-aged UK Biobank population was assessed by questionnaire and investigates several aspects of cannabis use (lifetime, frequency and current status). Associations between cannabis use and ASI were estimated using sex multiple linear regressions. Covariates were tobacco status, diabetes dyslipidaemia, alcohol status, BMI categories, hypertension, mean blood pressure and heart rate.

RESULTS

Men presented higher ASI levels compared with women (respectively, 9.826 vs. 8.578 m/s, P < 0.001), a higher heavy lifetime cannabis users (4.0 vs. 1.9%, P < 0.001), higher current cannabis users (3.1 vs. 1.7%, P < 0.001), higher current smokers (8.4 vs. 5.8%, P < 0.001) and higher alcohol users (95.6 vs. 93.4%, P < 0.001). After adjustment for all covariates in sex models, heavy lifetime cannabis users were associated with higher ASI levels in men [b = 0.19, 95% confidence interval (0.02; 0.35)] but not in women [b = -0.02 (-0.23; 0.19)]. Current cannabis users were associated with higher ASI levels in men [b = 0.17 (0.01; 0.32)] but not in women [b = -0.01 (-0.20; 0.18)] and among cannabis users, every day frequency was associated with increased ASI levels in men [b = 0.29 (0.07; 0.51)] but not in women [b = 0.10 (-0.17; 0.37)].

CONCLUSION

The observed association between cannabis use and ASI could participate in accurate and appropriate cardiovascular risk reduction strategies among cannabis users.

Serum Metabolomic Analysis of Male Patients with Cannabis or Amphetamine Use Disorder

Studies have demonstrated that chronic consumption of abused drugs induces alterations in several proteins that regulate metabolism. For instance, methamphetamine exposure reduces glucose levels. Fatty and amino acid levels were altered in groups exposed to abused drugs. Therefore, in our study, we investigated the serum metabolomic profile of patients diagnosed with cannabis and/or amphetamine use disorders. Blood was obtained from subjects (control, amphetamine, and cannabis). Detection of serum metabolites was performed using gas chromatography. The ratio peak areas for metabolites were analyzed across the three groups. Both cannabis and amphetamine groups showed higher d-erythrotetrafuranose, octadecanoic acid, hexadecenoic acid, trans-9-octadecanoic acid, lactic acid and methyl thio hydantoin metabolites compared with the control group. Moreover, cannabis patients were found to possess higher glycine, 9,12 octadecanoic acid malonic acid, phosphoric acid and prostaglandin F1a than controls. Our analysis showed that the identified metabolic profile of cannabis or amphetamine use disorder patients was different than control group. Our data indicated that chronic exposure to cannabis or amphetamine dysregulated metabolites in the serum. Future studies are warranted to explore the effects of these abused drugs on the metabolic proteins.

Cannabis and Athletic Performance

Cannabis is widely used for both recreational and medicinal purposes on a global scale. There is accumulating interest in the use of cannabis and its constituents for athletic recovery, and in some instances, performance. Amidst speculation of potential beneficial applications, the effects of cannabis and its two most abundant constituents, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), remain largely un-investigated. The purpose of this review is to critically evaluate the literature describing the effects of whole cannabis, THC, and CBD, on athletic performance and recovery. While investigations of whole cannabis and THC have generally shown either null or detrimental effects on exercise performance in strength and aerobic-type activities, studies of sufficient rigor and validity to conclusively declare ergogenic or ergolytic potential in athletes are lacking. The ability of cannabis and THC to perturb cardiovascular homeostasis warrants further investigation regarding mechanisms by which performance may be affected across different exercise modalities and energetic demands. In contrast to cannabis and THC, CBD has largely been scrutinized for its potential to aid in recovery. The beneficial effects of CBD on sleep quality, pain, and mild traumatic brain injury may be of particular interest to certain athletes. However, research in each of these respective areas has yet to be thoroughly investigated in athletic populations. Elucidating the effects of whole cannabis, THC, and CBD is pertinent for both researchers and practitioners given the widespread use of these products, and their potential to interact with athletes' performance and recovery.