For many years scientists have noticed an unusual pattern.
Although cannabis often makes people feel hungrier, regular users are frequently found to have lower body weight and a lower risk of type 2 diabetes than non-users.
This unexpected observation has become known as the cannabis metabolism paradox. A new study from the University of California, Riverside offers fresh clues about why this may happen.
The findings were published in The Journal of Physiology.
Cannabis contains more than one hundred different natural chemicals called cannabinoids. THC is the best known because it causes the feeling of being high. However, researchers now believe that many other compounds in the plant may also influence the body in important ways.
Professor Nicholas V. DiPatrizio and his colleagues designed a study using obese mice to compare the effects of pure THC with a whole cannabis extract containing the same amount of THC plus many additional plant compounds.
This allowed the scientists to determine whether THC alone explained the metabolic effects seen in earlier population studies.
The results surprised the researchers. Both treatments reduced body weight, but only the whole cannabis extract improved blood sugar regulation.
Mice receiving THC alone continued to show unhealthy glucose control, while those receiving the complete plant extract experienced significant improvements in metabolism.
The researchers believe communication between fat tissue and the pancreas may explain these findings. In healthy people, fat cells release signals that help the pancreas produce insulin, the hormone that controls blood sugar. Obesity and type 2 diabetes disrupt this communication. The whole cannabis extract appeared to restore some of these signals, allowing the body to regulate glucose more effectively.
Scientists emphasize that this research does not mean cannabis should be used as a treatment for obesity or diabetes. The experiments were performed in mice, not people. Many treatments that appear promising in animal studies later prove ineffective or unsafe in human clinical trials.
Instead, the findings point researchers toward individual cannabis compounds that might eventually become new medicines. The next step will be to isolate these compounds and study whether they can improve metabolism without causing intoxication or other unwanted effects.
The study also highlights the need for careful scientific research as cannabis becomes more widely available around the world. Understanding both its risks and potential medical benefits will help doctors and policymakers make informed decisions.
This research has important strengths because it compared pure THC with whole-plant extract under controlled laboratory conditions and explored possible biological mechanisms.
However, the work remains preclinical, meaning it represents an early stage of research. Human clinical trials will be essential before any conclusions can be drawn about the effects of cannabis on body weight or diabetes risk.
If you care about health, please read studies about how Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and the best time to take vitamins to prevent heart disease.
For more health information, please see recent studies that olive oil may help you live longer, and vitamin D could help lower the risk of autoimmune diseases.
Source: University of California, Riverside.
