Dysfunctional Endocannabinoid System May Lead to Eating Disorders
A recent study published by the European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging as well as the National Institute of Health has found evidence to suggest that a dysfunctional endocannabinoid system
may lead to eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa. These results indicate that cannabis may be an effective treatment for these types of disorders, given that it naturally activates and heals our body’s cannabinoid receptors.
“Several lines of evidence strongly implicate a dysfunctional endocannabinoid system (ECS) in eating disorders” says Cindy Casteels, lead author of t\e study. Researchers used “small animal positron emission tomography” to investigate “for the first time cerebral changes in type 1 cannabinoid (CB1) receptor binding in vivo in the activity-based rat model of anorexia (ABA), in comparison to distinct motor- and food-related control conditions”.
“These data point to a widespread transient disturbance of the endocannabinoid transmission [for those with anorexia], specifically for CB1 receptors”, researchers concludes.
The study was conducted at the Division of Nuclear Medicine at University Hospital and KU Leuve in Belgium.
– TheJointBlog
