Adelaide, Australia: Adults with a history of recent cannabis use are less likely to suffer from metabolic syndrome (aka MetS, a cluster of biochemical and physiological markers associated with the development of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes) as compared to similarly matched controls, according to data published in the journal Schizophrenia Research.
Australian researchers assessed MetS prevalence in a cohort of schizophrenic patients with and without a history of cannabis consumption.
They reported that THC-positive subjects “exhibited a significantly lower prevalence of MetS (adjusted OR = 0.61),” even after researchers adjusted for potential confounders. Cannabis use was also associated with lower weight, BMI, and cholesterol levels – findings that are consistent with prior studies.
“Our findings demonstrate a significant association between cannabis use and a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome in individuals with schizophrenia,” the study’s authors concluded. However, they cautioned: “Given the well-established adverse psychosis-related outcomes of cannabis use in this population, our findings underscore the need for cautious interpretation. The relationship between cannabis use and cardiometabolic health in schizophrenia is likely multifactorial, influenced by biological, pharmacological and behavioral traits that remain poorly understood. … Future research should investigate the long-term cardiometabolic effects of both cannabis use and cessation and assess the potential for targeted metabolic interventions during this critical period.”
Full text of the study, “Cannabis use and cardiometabolic risk in schizophrenia,” appears in Schizophrenia Research.