Biological underpinnings from psychosocial stress towards appetite and obesity during youth- research implications towards metagenomics, epigenomics and metabolomics
A recent study has revealed how saliva analysis demonstrates the relationship between diet, stress, and the endocannabinoid system. Stress can be measured by the concentration of cortisol in saliva; an increased concentration of cortisol has been positively correlated to increased activity of the endocannabinoid system which then leads to an increase in appetite. One suggested a mechanism for this occurrence is that the increase in cortisol modulates microbes that regulate endocannabinoids which eventually leads to uncontrolled eating habits. The dysregulation of the endocannabinoid system by stress has therefore been related to obesity and is a promising target for the treatment of obesity.
The authors mention utilizing saliva as a tool to discover the cause of patients obesity. By determining the cause in a timely fashion, physicians may be able to recommend more accurate treatment or diet plans to bring patients' weight back under control. Cannabinoids, in combination with stress-relieving techniques, may also provide an easier method for dropping weight than the more traditional diets that are often difficult to adhere to. Considering the obesity rates in America, especially among adolescents, looking into these alternative therapies for obesity is in the best interest of America’s national health.
This study is available for review and download in the CED Foundation Archive: http://bit.ly/drcaplan
Cognitive, physical, and mental health outcomes between long-term cannabis and tobacco users
Researchers have recently compared long-term cannabis and tobacco users, finding that cannabis users had more difficulties learning but better health overall than tobacco users. This study compared tobacco and cannabis users after they had abstained from their chosen substance for 15 hours before running through a myriad of texts. Although it took cannabis users longer to acquire and recall novel information cannabis users reported better psychological, somatic, and general health than tobacco users, as well as lowered stress levels, more similar to controls. Tobacco users were also revealed to have more emotional problems than cannabis users and controls. This research may prove beneficial in the creation of programs that utilize cannabis to aid in the cessation of tobacco use.
This research, while highlighting the advantages of cannabis use over tobacco use, also emphasizes the negative impact of cannabis on individuals in school. Whether those individuals are enrolled in a high school or upper-level academic program, consistent use of cannabis may prove harmful to their overall performance. Patients should always discuss their concerns with their recommending physicians, and should be mindful of the current gaps in medical knowledge concerning cannabis. This information also does not apply to every cannabis-based product, like most topicals. Topicals, unless high-dose tetrahydrocannabinol patches, generally do not cause psychoactive effects and would, therefore, have no affect learning. More research is needed to fully understand which cannabinoids, doses, and frequency of doses, affect learning so that patients are well informed about their medications.
This article is available for review and download:
View more studies like this in the CED Foundation Archive: http://bit.ly/drcaplan