New Study: Cannabinoid Receptor Deficiency May Lead to Heart Failure

New Study: Cannabinoid Receptor Deficiency May Lead to Heart Failure

A new study published in this month’s issue of the International Journal of Cardiology , and published online by the National Institute of Health, has found that cannabinoid receptor deficiency may lead to heart failure. If this is the case, cannabis consumption would combat this failure, given that it naturally activates our body’s cannabinoid receptors.

According to the study, “The endocannabinoid system is known to play a role in regulating myocardial contractility, but the influence of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) deficiency on chronic heart failure (CHF) remains unclear. In this study we attempted to investigate the effect of CB1 deficiency on CHF induced by pressure overload and the possible mechanisms involved.”

After several months of research using rat subjects, researchers conclude; “These findings indicate that cannabinoid receptor 1 inactivation promotes cardiac remodeling [heart failure] by enhancing the activity of the epidermal growth factor receptor and mitogen-activated protein kinases.”

The study was conducted by researchers at the Department of Cardiology at Nanfang Hospital at Southern Medical University.

– TheJointBlog