Abstract
Background
There are limited data regarding the relationship between cannabinoids and metabolic
processes. Epidemiologic studies have found lower prevalence rates of obesity and
diabetes mellitus in marijuana users compared with people who have never used marijuana,
suggesting a relationship between cannabinoids and peripheral metabolic processes.
To date, no study has investigated the relationship between marijuana use and fasting
insulin, glucose, and insulin resistance.
Methods
We included 4657 adult men and women from the National Health and Nutrition Examination
Survey from 2005 to 2010. Marijuana use was assessed by self-report in a private room.
Fasting insulin and glucose were measured via blood samples after a 9-hour fast, and
homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated to evaluate
insulin resistance. Associations were estimated using multiple linear regression,
accounting for survey design and adjusting for potential confounders.
Results
Of the participants in our study sample, 579 were current marijuana users and 1975
were past users. In multivariable adjusted models, current marijuana use was associated
with 16% lower fasting insulin levels (95% confidence interval [CI], −26, −6) and
17% lower HOMA-IR (95% CI, −27, −6). We found significant associations between marijuana
use and smaller waist circumferences. Among current users, we found no significant
dose-response.
Conclusions
We found that marijuana use was associated with lower levels of fasting insulin and
HOMA-IR, and smaller waist circumference.
Keywords
References
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 16, 2013
Footnotes
Funding: None.
Conflict of Interest: None.
Authorship: All authors had access to the data and played a role in writing this manuscript.
EAP and HB are joint first authors.
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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- Marijuana Use in Models for Health OutcomesThe American Journal of MedicineVol. 128Issue 3
- PreviewUsing data from the continuous National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to estimate the effects of current and past marijuana use on certain health outcomes associated with an increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease,1 Penner et al2 found that marijuana users experienced improved insulin resistance, higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, lower insulin, lower glucose, and smaller waist circumferences compared with nonusers.2
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