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Byanyima JI, Li X, Vesslee SA, Kranzler HR, Shi Z, Wiers CE. Metabolic profiles associated with opioid use and opioid use disorder: a narrative review of the literature. CURRENT ADDICTION REPORTS 2023; 10:581-593. [PMID: 37982033 PMCID: PMC10656052 DOI: 10.1007/s40429-023-00493-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Purpose of Review Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a chronic, relapsing condition that is epidemic in the USA. OUD is associated with serious adverse consequences, including higher incarceration rates, impaired medical and mental health, and overdose-related fatalities. Several medications with demonstrated clinical efficacy in reducing opioid use are approved to treat OUD. However, there is evidence that medications for OUD cause metabolic impairments, which raises concerns over the long-term metabolic health of individuals recovering from OUD. Here, we summarize the scientific literature on the metabolic effects of the use of opioids, including medications for treating OUD. Recent Findings Our findings showed lower body weight and adiposity, and better lipid profiles in individuals with OUD. In individuals with diabetes mellitus, opioid use was associated with lower blood glucose levels. In contrast, among individuals without underlying metabolic conditions, opioids promoted insulin resistance. Treatment of OUD patients with the agonists methadone or buprenorphine caused weight gain, increased liking and intake of sugar, and impaired lipid profile and glucose metabolism, whereas treatment with the antagonist naltrexone demonstrated evidence for reduced sweet preferences. Summary Our findings highlighted a gap in knowledge regarding the safety of medications for OUD. Further research is needed to determine how best to reduce the risk of metabolic disorder in the treatment of OUD with opioid agonists versus antagonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana I Byanyima
- Center for Studies of Addiction, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 3535 Market St. Suite 500, Philadelphia, PA 191904, USA
| | - Xinyi Li
- Center for Studies of Addiction, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 3535 Market St. Suite 500, Philadelphia, PA 191904, USA
| | - Sianneh A Vesslee
- Center for Studies of Addiction, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 3535 Market St. Suite 500, Philadelphia, PA 191904, USA
| | - Henry R Kranzler
- Center for Studies of Addiction, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 3535 Market St. Suite 500, Philadelphia, PA 191904, USA
| | - Zhenhao Shi
- Center for Studies of Addiction, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 3535 Market St. Suite 500, Philadelphia, PA 191904, USA
| | - Corinde E Wiers
- Center for Studies of Addiction, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 3535 Market St. Suite 500, Philadelphia, PA 191904, USA
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Sheikhy A, Fallahzadeh A, Nayebirad S, Nalini M, Sadeghian S, Pashang M, Shirzad M, Salehi-Omran A, Mansourian S, Bagheri J, Hosseini K. Opium consumption and long-term outcomes of CABG surgery in patients without modifiable risk factors. Front Surg 2023; 10:1047807. [PMID: 36874455 PMCID: PMC9982127 DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2023.1047807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The question about the significance of opium consumption as a coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factor still remains open. The present study aimed to evaluate the association between opium consumption and long term outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients without standard modifiable CAD risk factors (SMuRFs; hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and smoking). Methods In this registry-based design, we included 23,688 patients with CAD who underwent isolated CABG between January 2006 to December 2016. Outcomes were compared in two groups; with and without SMuRF. The main outcomes were all-cause mortality, fatal and nonfatal cerebrovascular events (MACCE). Inverse probability weighting (IPW) adjusted Cox's proportional hazards (PH) model was used to evaluate the effect of opium on post-op outcomes. Results During 133,593 person-years of follow-up, opium consumption was associated with increased risk of mortality in both patients with and without SMuRFs (weighted Hazard Ratio (HR)s: 1.248 [1.009, 1.574] and 1.410 [1.008, 2.038], respectively). There was no association between opium consumption and fatal and non-fatal MACCE in patients without SMuRF (HR = 1.027 [0.762-1.383], HR 0.700 [0.438-1.118]). Opium consumption was associated with earlier age of CABG in both groups; 2.77 (1.68, 3.85) years in SMuRF-less and 1.70 (1.11, 2.38) years in patients with SMuRFs. Conclusion Opium users not only undergo CABG at younger ages but also have a higher rate of mortality regardless of the presence of traditional CAD risk factors. Conversely, the risk of MACCE is only higher in patients with at least one modifiable CAD risk factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Sheikhy
- Tehran Heart Center, Cardiovascular Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Cardiac Primary Prevention Research Center, Cardiovascular Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Non-Communicable Disease Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Aida Fallahzadeh
- Tehran Heart Center, Cardiovascular Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Cardiac Primary Prevention Research Center, Cardiovascular Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Non-Communicable Disease Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sepehr Nayebirad
- Tehran Heart Center, Cardiovascular Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Cardiac Primary Prevention Research Center, Cardiovascular Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdi Nalini
- Digestive Oncology Research Center, Digestive Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Shariati Hospital, Tehran, Iran.,Cardiovascular Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Imam Ali Hospital, Shahid Beheshti Boulevard, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Saeed Sadeghian
- Tehran Heart Center, Cardiovascular Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Cardiac Primary Prevention Research Center, Cardiovascular Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mina Pashang
- Tehran Heart Center, Cardiovascular Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahmoud Shirzad
- Tehran Heart Center, Cardiovascular Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas Salehi-Omran
- Tehran Heart Center, Cardiovascular Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Soheil Mansourian
- Tehran Heart Center, Cardiovascular Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Jamshid Bagheri
- Tehran Heart Center, Cardiovascular Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kaveh Hosseini
- Tehran Heart Center, Cardiovascular Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Cardiac Primary Prevention Research Center, Cardiovascular Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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3
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The Effect of 3 Years of Methadone Maintenance Therapy on Biochemical and Biophysical Parameters of Opioid Use Disorder Patients. Int J Ment Health Addict 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11469-022-00990-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
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4
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Prevalence of dyslipidemia and its association with opium consumption in the Rafsanjan cohort study. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11504. [PMID: 35798768 PMCID: PMC9262952 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-13926-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The potential effects of opium consumption on lipid profile remain unquantified. We considered the association between opium use and dyslipidemia. In this cross-sectional study, we used data obtained from the Rafsanjan cohort study, as a part of the prospective epidemiological research studies in IrAN (PERSIAN) with detailed and validated data on opium consumption and selected other exposures. A total of 9932 adults were included in the study. Logistic regression models were used to assess the relationships of opium consumption with the prevalence of dyslipidemia and lipid disorders. In this population, 73.33% had dyslipidemia and the prevalence rates of high TC, high TG, high LDL and low HDL were 54.24%, 47.45%, 34.43% and 11.91% respectively. After adjustment for all confounders, opium users compared with non-users had lower odds ratios (OR) of high TC and high LDL [0.81 (95% confidence interval, CI 0.71–0.92) and 0.80 (95% CI 0.69–0.93) respectively] and greater OR of low HDL [1.30 (95% CI 1.04–1.62)]. Longer duration of opium consumption resulted in lower ORs of high TC, 0.68 (95% CI 0.55–0.84) and high LDL, 0.82 (95% CI 0.67–0.99), and shorter duration of opium consumption resulted in increased odds of low HDL, 1.30 (95% CI 1.02–1.66). High dose of opium consumption was associated with an OR of dyslipidemia of 0.80 (95% CI 0.65–0.97), high TC of 0.80 (95% CI 0.67–0.95), and high LDL of 0.78 (95% CI 0.64–0.96) and low dose of opium consumption, with an OR of low HDL of 1.30 (95% CI 1.02–1.65). In relation to route of consumption, opium smoking was a risk factor for low HDL with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.31 (1.04–1.63). Opium use was associated with selected changes on serum lipid levels, but opium users had higher frequency of cardiovascular disease history.
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Hendijani F, Hosseini FS. Interindividual variability in diabetic patients’ response to opium poppy: an overview of impressive factors. Per Med 2022; 19:155-163. [PMID: 35220727 DOI: 10.2217/pme-2021-0107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Diabetic patients always seek alternative treatments to lower their blood glucose level efficiently, because antidiabetic drugs produce adverse effects and many patients experience reduced response after a treatment period. Opium poppy ( Papaver somniferum) is frequently consumed by diabetic patients for reduction of blood glucose level. Scientific studies found controversial results in the investigation of the blood glucose-lowering effects of opium poppy. In this regard, we explored the antidiabetic effect of opium poppy more closely. The antidiabetic or antihyperglycemic effect of P. somniferum alkaloids were reviewed. Next, opioid receptors and their role in diabetes were explored. In the final part origins of interindividual variabilities in opioid receptors and metabolizing enzymes’ functions including genetic and epigenetic factors were reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Hendijani
- Department of Pharmacognosy & Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Sadat Hosseini
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
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Hussien R, El-Setouhy M, Shinawi ME, El-Hariri HM, Hirshon JM. Acute Toxic Effects of the New Psychoactive Substance "Voodoo" among Patients presented to the Poison Control Center of Ain Shams University Hospitals (PCC-ASUH), Egypt, during 2017. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 2021; 16:71. [PMID: 34544462 PMCID: PMC8454133 DOI: 10.1186/s13011-021-00408-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Voodoo is a heterogeneous mixture of psychoactive substances that has recently grown in popularity among youth in Egypt. Patients can present with a variety of manifestations that may lead to death in some cases. This study assessed the acute toxic effects of voodoo among patients presented to the Poison Control Center of Ain Shams University Hospitals (PCC-ASUH) during a one year period. METHODS This is a retrospective study of all patients presented with voodoo intoxication at the PCC-ASUH from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2017. Clinical data, routine laboratory findings, and ECG results as well as duration of hospitalization and outcome were compiled from hospital records. RESULTS Seventy-one voodoo intoxication cases meeting the inclusion criteria were analyzed (mean age: 25.19 ± 9.54 years, range: 15-50 years, 97.2 % male). Pulse, blood pressure, and respiratory rate were normal in more than half of all patients. Neurological abnormalities including agitation, hallucinations, disturbance of consciousness were the most frequent manifestations. Respiratory acidosis was the most common laboratory finding (54.9 %), followed by increased serum urea (43.6 %), hypokalemia (33.8 %), hyperglycemia (28.1 %), and leukocytosis (26.7 %). The most common ECG finding was sinus tachycardia (31 %), followed by QT prolongation (15.4 %). More than half of the studied patients (53.5 %) co-administered other illicit substances, most frequently cannabis and tramadol. Most patients recovered fully and were discharged, but death occurred in two cases. CONCLUSIONS Voodoo toxicity can manifest with many presentations, hampering timely diagnosis. Clinicians should consider possible voodoo poisoning in patients presenting with a history of drug use with neurological symptoms, and they should conduct follow-up arterial blood gases, electrolytes and ECG as voodoo may contain potentially fatal psychoactive substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rania Hussien
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Maged El-Setouhy
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Mohamed El Shinawi
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | | | - Jon Mark Hirshon
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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7
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Piraiee E, Hassanipour S, Shojaie L, Vali M, Nikbakht HA, Rezaei F, Ghaem H. Opium use and type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE USE 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/14659891.2021.1967476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elahe Piraiee
- Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
| | - Soheil Hassanipour
- Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Layla Shojaie
- Division of GI/Liver, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Mohebat Vali
- Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Hossein-Ali Nikbakht
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Rezaei
- Department of Social Medicine, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran
| | - Haleh Ghaem
- Department of Epidemiology, Non-communicable Diseases Research Center, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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8
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Barasa E, Shaviya N, Budambula V, Were T. rs1445776009 variants in the human ALB gene: Association with serum albumin and clinical outcomes in HIV-infected Kenyan injection substance users. Int J Health Sci (Qassim) 2021; 15:3-11. [PMID: 34234630 PMCID: PMC8220640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The coburden of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and injection substance use is high especially in coastal urban and peri-urban regions of sub-Saharan Africa. Although antiretroviral treatment (ART) has improved disease prognosis in HIV-1-infected patients, injection substance use is detrimental to these individuals. HIV-1 and injection substances use have been associated with a marked reduction in serum albumin levels. This is attributable to at least, in part, injection substance use, ARVs, HIV-1 infection, as well as host genetics. The albumin gene expression is modulated through several mechanisms including intronic consensus elements. Therefore, this study examined ALB gene rs1445776009 intronic polymorphism and its association with disease outcomes. METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted at Bomu Hospital, Mombasa County, Kenya. A total of 155 injection substance users (ISUs) were recruited comprising 93 ART experienced and 62 ART naive. Variant rs1445776009 was amplified through polymerase chain reaction and genotyped through restriction fragment length polymorphism. RESULTS Carriers of the mutant and GG had significantly lower body mass index (P = 0.033), serum albumin (P = 0.002), CD4+ T cells (P = 0.031), and higher HIV-1 RNA copies (P = 0.018) relative to wild type, CC and heterozygous, CG; in ART-experienced ISUs. In addition, mutant GG carriers were at higher odds of presenting with hypoalbuminemia (OR, 1.933; 95% CI, 1.524-4.664; P = 0.033), underweight (OR, 2.412; 95% CI, 1.124-5.782; P = 0.026), immunosuppression (OR, 3.036; 95% CI, 1.957-9.633; P = 0.021), and high-density HIV viremia (OR, 1.836; 95% CI, 1.134-6.298; P = 0.016). CONCLUSION This study's findings appear to suggest that loci rs1445776009 of the ALB gene could be modulating serum albumin levels and disease outcomes in HIV-1 ART-experienced ISUs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erick Barasa
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kakamega, Kenya
| | - Nathan Shaviya
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kakamega, Kenya
| | - Valentine Budambula
- Department of Environment and Health Sciences, Technical University of Mombasa, Mombasa, Kenya, Mombasa, Kenya
| | - Tom Were
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kakamega, Kenya,Address for correspondence: Tom Were, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 190-50100, Kakamega, Kenya. Phone: +254-720-326127. E-mail:
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Kim YM, Kathuria P, Delen D. Discovering opioid users’ medical comorbidities: a data mining approach. JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE USE 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/14659891.2019.1659869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Mi Kim
- School of Library and Information Studies, University of Oklahoma, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Pranay Kathuria
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, University of Oklahoma, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Dursun Delen
- Management Science and Information Systems, University of Oklahoma, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
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Farkhondeh T, Ashrafizadeh M, Mehrpour O, Roshanravan B, Samarghandian S. Low toxicity in hematological and biomedical parameters caused by bupernorphine in lactating female rats and their newborns. TOXIN REV 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/15569543.2019.1681002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tahereh Farkhondeh
- Cardiovascular Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
- Innovative Medical Research Center, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Milad Ashrafizadeh
- Department of Basic Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Omid Mehrpour
- Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Safety, Denver Health, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Babak Roshanravan
- Medical Student, Student Research Committee, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Saeed Samarghandian
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran
- Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran
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Ebdali RT, Tabaee SS, Tabaei S. Cardiovascular complications and related risk factors underlying opium consumption. J Cell Physiol 2018; 234:8487-8495. [PMID: 30478829 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.27780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Opium is considered as the second most abused addictive compound in worldwide. It seems that one of the causes for common consumption of opium in many countries is a traditional belief, even among medical personnel, through which opium might have advantageous influences on cardiovascular events and be beneficial in controlling hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes. According to several investigations, it is thought that opium not only has no beneficial effects on cardiovascular events, but it might have deleterious influences on these settings. As a result, people need to be trained with regard to the adverse effects of opium on cardiovascular events. In this review, we try to go through the understanding of the effects of opium cardiovascular disorders and related complications such as blood pressure, blood sugar, lipid circumstances, and finally atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reyhaneh T Ebdali
- Department of Cardiology, Neyshabur University of Medical Science, Neyshabur, Iran
| | | | - Samira Tabaei
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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Najafipour H, Beik A. The Impact of Opium Consumption on Blood Glucose, Serum Lipids and Blood Pressure, and Related Mechanisms. Front Physiol 2016; 7:436. [PMID: 27790151 PMCID: PMC5061814 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2016.00436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2016] [Accepted: 09/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: Substance abuse has become a universal crisis in our modern age. Among illegal substances, opium and its derivatives have been ranked second in terms of usage after cannabis in the world. In many Asian regions, the use of opium enjoys a high social acceptance; hence, some common people and even medical practitioners believe that opium lowers blood glucose and pressure and treat dyslipidemia. How much this belief is scientifically justified? Method: The results of available studies on both humans and animals searched in different search engines up to mid-2016 were integrated (78 articles). Upon the findings we try to offer a more transparent picture of the effects of opium on the mentioned factors along with the probable underlying mechanisms of its action. Results: Taken together, a variety of evidences suggest that the consumption of opium has no scientific justification for amendment of these biochemical variables. The mechanisms proposed so far for the action of opium in the three above disorders are summarized at the end of the article. Short term effects seems to be mostly mediated through central nervous system (neural and hormonal mechanisms), but long term effects are often due to the structural and functional alterations in some body organs. Conclusion: Although opium may temporarily reduce blood pressure, but it increases blood glucose and most of blood lipids. Moreover its long term use has negative impacts and thus it aggravates diabetes, dyslipidemia and hypertension. Accordingly, it is necessary to inform societies about the potential disadvantages of unauthorized opium consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Najafipour
- Cardiovascular Research Center and Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences Kerman, Iran
| | - Ahmad Beik
- Physiology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences Kerman, Iran
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