High endocannabinoid, analogue levels tied to poor cardiometabolic profile in young adults

Plasma levels of endocannabinoids (eCBs) and their analogues show a significant association with greater adiposity and worse cardiometabolic profile in young adults, suggests a study.

“The endocannabinoid system is a signaling system composed of eCBs, their receptors, and the enzymes involved in their synthesis and metabolism,” the investigators said. “Alterations in the ECS are linked to the development of cardiometabolic diseases.”

A total of 133 young adults (mean age 22.1 years, 67 percent women) participated in this study, which explored the relationship between plasma levels of eCBs and their analogues with body composition and cardiometabolic risk factors.

The investigators used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to measure the fasting plasma levels of eCBs and several analogues. They also measured the body composition, brown adipose tissue (BAT) volume, glucose uptake, and traditional cardiometabolic risk factors in participants.

Plasma levels of eCBs and their analogues were significantly associated with adiposity and traditional cardiometabolic risk factors (eg, serum insulin, and triacylglyceride levels; r≥0.17 for all; p≤0.045). On the other hand, plasma levels of 2-arachidonoyl glycerol and N-pentadecenoylethanolamine showed a negative association with BAT volume and glucose uptake (r≤‒0.17 for all; p≤0.047).

“We observed that the plasma levels of eCBs and their analogues were higher in metabolically unhealthy overweight–obese participants than in metabolically healthy overweight–obese participants,” the investigators said.