A recent study conducted by graduate students from Texas A&M University School of Public Health, and a colleague at Hofstra University, suggests that women who consume heavy amounts of cannabis may reduce their risk for diabetes.
The results are preliminary, and the study group was from a narrow demographic. The researchers looked at data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2013 to 2018.
The majority of the 15,000 participants were white female college graduates over 40. A broader demographic study group could yield more comprehensive results.
The researchers defined heavy cannabis use as consuming marijuana four times a month. These women might have lit up their favorite pre-rolled cones to consume cannabis.
Data showed that the heavy cannabis consumers had a more negligible probability of a diabetes diagnosis than the females who did not consume cannabis.
Because cannabis contains cannabinoids that are anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory, many researchers hypothesize that cannabis would reduce or even prevent diabetes. Older medical studies have supported this hypothesis.
A 2012 study published in the British Medical Journal found a lower prevalence of Type 2 diabetes among adults with a history of cannabis consumption. They also had a reduced risk of contracting diabetes compared to people with no history of marijuana consumption.
The researchers from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) analyzed the connection between cannabis consumption and diabetes mellitus (DM) among 10,986 adults aged 20 to 59. Even after adjusting for social variables such as physical activity and ethnicity, they discovered that past and current cannabis consumers had a lower prevalence of diabetes than non-marijuana consumers.
The impact of CBD on alpha-glucosidase hasn’t always been well understood. The enzyme alpha-glucosidase helps the digestion of dietary carbohydrates and starches, which produces glucose which is then absorbed by the intestines. This complex process causes a rise in blood sugar levels.
People with type 2 diabetes are typically prescribed alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, which slow down carbohydrate absorption in the small intestine. This process reduces blood sugar and insulin levels.
A preliminary study in 2021 showed CBD could be beneficial in reducing blood glucose levels by reducing glucose absorption from food. Researchers discovered that CBD has an inhibitory effect against alpha-glucosidase. Additionally, they found a fruitful association between high CBD levels inhibiting alpha-glucosidase activity.
The endocannabinoid system among those who are overweight or have diabetes appears to be overactive. Consuming cannabis or CBD may be a way to treat it and restore its balance.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that diabetes increases the risk of heart disease for women four times.
Compared to men, women have significantly worse outcomes from a heart attack. In addition, women are also more susceptible to diabetes-related complications, including blindness, depression, and kidney disease.
Cannabis has been an effective pain management treatment for years. This latest study, published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, is coming on the heels of recent research showing cannabis having a beneficial effect against COVID-19. The medicinal potential of cannabis could be more vast than initially imagined.
A different study showed how smoking cannabis could alter lungs differently than tobacco.
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