Jerusalem, Israel: Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) possess lower levels of endogenous cannabinoids than do matched controls, according to data published in the journal Molecular Autism.
Israeli researchers compared endocannabinoid serum levels in 93 patients with ASD versus controls. They reported "substantially lower" serum levels of the primary endocannabinoid anandamide, as well as its related compounds, in children with ASD.
In recent months, several clinical trials — such as those here, here, here, and here — have demonstrated that the supplemental administration of plant-derived CBD-dominant cannabis extracts is associated with symptom mitigation in patients with autism spectrum disorder.
For more information, contact Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director, at: paul@norml.org. Full text of the study, "Lower circulating endocannabinoid levels in children with autism spectrum disorder," appears in Molecular Autism.