Metabolic study of cannabis extract points to protection against diabetes

University of California, Riverside researchers have reported that whole-plant cannabis extract improved glucose regulation in obese mice, while THC alone did not

A preclinical study from the University of California, Riverside, California, USA, has offered fresh insight into why chronic cannabis users have often been observed to have lower body weight and a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes (T2DM), despite the drug’s well-known association with increased appetite.

Researchers led by Dr. Nicholas V. DiPatrizio, professor of biomedical sciences at the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine, examined an apparent metabolic paradox: cannabis has commonly been linked with greater food intake – described by many as the ‘munchies’ – yet population studies have repeatedly associated regular cannabis use with more favourable metabolic profiles than those seen in non-users.

The findings suggest that compounds in cannabis beyond delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) may have an important role to play in metabolic regulation. THC is the primary psychoactive component of cannabis and is responsible for many of the plant’s intoxicating effects.

The research team used a mouse model designed to reflect human dietary patterns and compared the effects of purified THC with those of a whole-plant cannabis extract. Both preparations contained the same level of THC, which allowed the scientists to assess whether other naturally occurring cannabis compounds altered the metabolic response.

Both treatments led to significant weight loss in obese mice but their effects on glucose control differed sharply. Mice treated with THC alone continued to show impaired glucose homeostasis, a key feature of T2DM. By contrast, mice treated with the whole cannabis extract not only lost weight but also showed a reversal of these metabolic impairments.

“This suggests that THC alone is not responsible for the metabolic benefits associated with cannabis use – other compounds in the plant appear to play a critical role,” said DiPatrizio, who directs the University of California, Riverside Center for Cannabinoid Research.

The researchers’ analysis pointed to a possible mechanism based on communication between fat tissue and the pancreas. In a healthy metabolic system, fat cells release signalling molecules that help to regulate insulin secretion. In obesity and T2DM, this communication can become disrupted which contributes to poor blood glucose control.

The study found that the whole cannabis extract restored this fat-to-pancreas signalling pathway more effectively than THC alone. This appeared to allow fat tissue to communicate with the pancreas in a way that supported more effective regulation of blood glucose.

The researchers cautioned that the findings do not support cannabis use as a treatment for obesity or diabetes. The work was preclinical and further studies, including human research, will be needed before any therapeutic conclusions can be drawn.

“We are not suggesting people should use cannabis to manage weight or diabetes,” DiPatrizio said.

DiPatrizio now aims to identify non-psychoactive cannabis compounds that could form the basis of targeted therapies able to deliver metabolic benefits without the intoxicating effects of THC. Future research will seek to isolate and test individual compounds to determine which components are responsible for the observed effects.

The study also underlined the need for continued scientific investigation as cannabis use becomes more widespread and policy continues to evolve.

“Clinicians, researchers, and policymakers should stay tuned and pay attention to this space,” DiPatrizio said.

“We need evidence-based approaches to fully understand both the risks and potential benefits of cannabis and its components,” he added.

For further reading please visit: 10.1113/JP290431