We found that marijuana use was associated with lower levels of fasting insulin and HOMA-IR, and smaller waist circumference.

Of the participants in our study sample, 579 were current marijuana users and 1975 were past users. In multivariable adjusted models, current marijuana use was associated with 16% lower fasting insulin levels (95% confidence interval [CI], −26, −6) and 17% lower HOMA-IR (95% CI, −27, −6). We found significant associations between marijuana use and smaller waist circumferences. Among current users, we found no significant dose-response.

We included 4657 adult men and women from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2005 to 2010. Marijuana use was assessed by self-report in a private room. Fasting insulin and glucose were measured via blood samples after a 9-hour fast, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated to evaluate insulin resistance. Associations were estimated using multiple linear regression, accounting for survey design and adjusting for potential confounders.

There are limited data regarding the relationship between cannabinoids and metabolic processes. Epidemiologic studies have found lower prevalence rates of obesity and diabetes mellitus in marijuana users compared with people who have never used marijuana, suggesting a relationship between cannabinoids and peripheral metabolic processes. To date, no study has investigated the relationship between marijuana use and fasting insulin, glucose, and insulin resistance.

Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States, and use is increasing. The 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that between 2007 and 2010, the prevalence of marijuana use among persons aged 12 years and older increased from 5.8% to 6.9%, meaning there are an estimated 17.4 million current users of marijuana. Approximately 4.6 million of these users smoked marijuana daily or almost daily.With the recent legalization of recreational marijuana in 2 states and the legalization of medical marijuana in 19 states and the District of Columbia, physicians will increasingly encounter marijuana use among their patient populations.Marijuana use is associated with an acute increase in caloric intake,and people who smoke marijuana have higher average caloric intake levels than nonusers.

In a nationally representative survey population, we found current use of marijuana to be associated with lower levels of fasting insulin, lower insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance), and smaller waist circumference.

Despite its associations with increased appetite and caloric intake, marijuana use also is associated with lower body mass index and prevalence of diabetes.

Marijuana use is increasingly common, and use of medical marijuana is now legal in 19 states and the District of Colombia.

Dietary intake and nutritional status of US adult marijuana users: results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Despite these associations with increased caloric intake, marijuana use has been associated with lower body mass index (BMI)and a lower prevalence of obesityand diabetes mellitus.The mechanisms underlying this paradox have not been determined, and the impact of regular marijuana use on insulin resistance and cardiometabolic risk factors remains unknown. In this study of 4657 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2005 to 2010, we examined the associations between habitual marijuana use and measures of fasting glucose and insulin levels, insulin resistance, and components of the metabolic syndrome.

Dietary intake and nutritional status of US adult marijuana users: results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

We examined whether there was a nonlinear association between frequency of marijuana use and logarithmic fasting insulin and HOMA-IR among current users of marijuana by including the difference between median intake and reported intake and the square of this value as continuous terms in our multivariable regression model. Because people with diabetes mellitus may alter their marijuana use habits, we also performed a sensitivity analysis excluding participants with diabetes mellitus. All analyses were conducted using STATA 12 (StataCorp LP, College Station, Tex).

Insulin, HOMA-IR, and triglycerides were skewed and log-transformed to approximate normality. We fit separate multiple linear regression models with BMI, logarithmic fasting insulin levels, fasting glucose levels, logarithmic HOMA-IR, hemoglobin A1c, logarithmic triglyceride levels, HDL-C levels, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and waist circumference as continuous outcomes. We first examined models adjusted for age and sex, and then performed multivariable regressions accounting for all of the following covariates, which were specified a priori as potential confounders: age, sex, race/ethnicity, education level, income, marital status, tobacco use, physical activity level, and alcohol use. Because BMI may mediate the association between marijuana use and our study outcomes, we examined the impact of further adjusting for BMI in multivariable models.

Because data on income were missing in 306 participants (7%) in the study population, we used Markov chain Monte Carlo multiple imputation to simulate 5 complete datasets. All statistical analyses were performed in each dataset. The results were then averaged using the mi estimate command in STATA, and P values and confidence intervals (CIs) incorporating the uncertainty in the imputed estimates were reported.We then compared the imputed and observed values to assess the reasonableness of the imputation model.

All analyses were weighted to adjust for the complex sampling design of the NHANES. We used chi-square tests to compare baseline characteristics across never, former, and current marijuana users.

Participants reported age, sex, race/ethnicity, education level, income, marital status, tobacco use, physical activity level, and alcohol use. Race/ethnicity was classified as Hispanic, non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, or other. We classified education level as less than high school, high school or equivalent, or some college. Income was categorized as less than $20,000, $20,000 to $44,999, $45,000 to $74,999, and greater than or equal to $75,000. Participants were classified into 3 groups of tobacco cigarette exposure: current user of tobacco cigarettes, past user of tobacco cigarettes, and lifetime nonsmoker (defined as <100 cigarettes in lifetime). Physical activity was classified as active, defined as report of any regular moderate or vigorous physical activity, or inactive, defined as report of no regular moderate or vigorous physical activity. Alcohol use was classified as nondrinkers, less than or equal to 1 drink per week, 1 to 14 drinks per week, or more than 14 drinks per week.

All measurements were collected during the physical examination in mobile examination centers, according to standard NHANES protocol.Blood pressure estimates were calculated by averaging 3 blood pressure readings. BMI was calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters.

From 2005 to 2006, hemoglobin A1c measurements were performed on the A1c 2.2 Plus Glycohemoglobin Analyzer (Tosoh Medics, Inc, South San Francisco, Calif). From 2007 to 2010, measurements were performed on the A1c G7 HPLC Glycohemoglobin Analyzer (Tosoh Medics, Inc). The hemoglobin A1c data from 2007 to 2010 exhibited higher values compared with the 1999 to 2006 data. No relationship to laboratory method, survey design, or population changes could be determined for this shift; therefore, no adjustments were made to these values.

From 2005 to 2006, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) testing was performed at Johns Hopkins University, using the Hitachi 717 and Hitachi 912 (Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, Ind). In this cycle, values were corrected because of bias from quality controls (Solomon Park Research Laboratories, Kirkland, Wash), using the following formula: corrected HDL-C = [(Solomon Park assigned HDL-C value) × (participant HDL-C)]/(quality control HDL-C value associated with participant sample)]. From 2007 to 2010, HDL-C testing was performed at the University of Minnesota, using the Roche Modular P chemistry analyzer (Roche Diagnostics).

Participants provided blood samples in the morning after a 9-hour fast. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), a measure of insulin resistance, was calculated as fasting serum insulin (μU/mL) × fasting plasma glucose (mg/dL)/405.

Responses to these questions were used to classify participants as never users (never smoked marijuana, n = 2103); past users (smoked marijuana at least once but not in the past 30 days, n = 1975); and current users (smoked marijuana at least once in the prior 30 days, n = 579).

Participants completed the drug use questionnaire in a private room, using the Audio Computer Assisted Self Interview system. They were asked:

“During the past 30 days, on how many days did you use marijuana or hashish?”

“How long has it been since you last used marijuana or hashish?” (answers were given as number of days, weeks, months, or years); and

“Have you ever, even once, smoked marijuana or hashish?” (yes, no, refused, don’t know);

The NHANES is a cross-sectional, continuous survey administered annually by the National Center for Health Statistics;data are released in 2-year increments. The survey uses a complex, multistage probability sampling design to select a nationally representative sample of individuals in the US population, and uses interview, physical examination, and laboratory components to assess health and nutritional status. From 2005 to 2010, 11,335 persons aged 20 to 59 years completed the questionnaire on illicit drug use, including 4657 participants who also were asked to provide a fasting blood sample.

In an analysis adjusting for BMI, a potential mediator of the associations between marijuana use and the cardiometabolic outcomes, the associations between current marijuana use and fasting levels of insulin, HOMA-IR, and waist circumference were attenuated, but remained statistically significant ( Table 3 ). In addition, the results were not materially different in analyses that excluded participants with diabetes mellitus ( Table 3 ).

In unadjusted analyses, past and current marijuana use were associated with lower levels of fasting insulin, glucose, HOMA-IR, BMI, and hemoglobin A1c ( Table 2 ). Current marijuana use also was found to be inversely associated with waist circumference. Models adjusted for age and sex demonstrated statistically significant associations between past and current use of marijuana with lower levels of fasting insulin, glucose, HOMA-IR, and BMI. Also, current use was associated with higher HDL-C levels and lower waist circumference ( Table 3 ). In multivariable-adjusted models, the associations of current marijuana use with lower levels of fasting insulin and HOMA-IR, as well as with higher HDL-C levels and lower waist circumference, remained statistically significant ( Table 3 ). Compared with participants reporting never having used marijuana in their lifetimes, current use was associated with 16% lower fasting insulin levels (95% CI, −26 to −6), 17% lower HOMA-IR (95% CI, −27 to −6), and 1.63 mg/dL higher HDL-C levels (95% CI, 0.23-3.04) in multivariable adjusted models. Among current users, we found no significant dose-response relationship and no evidence for a U- or J-shaped curve. We did not find any significant associations between marijuana use and triglyceride levels, systolic blood pressure, or diastolic blood pressure.

Adjusted Mean/Percent Differences in Measures of Carbohydrate Metabolism and Body Mass Index According to Marijuana Use Among Participants From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005 to 2010

Table 3 Adjusted Mean/Percent Differences in Measures of Carbohydrate Metabolism and Body Mass Index According to Marijuana Use Among Participants From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005 to 2010

Mean Values (Standard Errors) of Fasting Insulin and Glucose According to Average Marijuana Use Among Participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005 to 2010

Table 2 Mean Values (Standard Errors) of Fasting Insulin and Glucose According to Average Marijuana Use Among Participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005 to 2010

Of the 4657 NHANES participants in our study sample, 579 (representing 12.2%) were current users of marijuana and 1975 (representing 47.7%) had used marijuana at least once in their lifetime, but not in the past 30 days. Compared with lifetime nonusers, participants who reported marijuana use in the past month tended to be male, younger, and current users of tobacco ( Table 1 ).

Discussion

In this large, cross-sectional study, we found that subjects who reported using marijuana in the past month had lower levels of fasting insulin and HOMA-IR, as well as smaller waist circumference and higher levels of HDL-C. These associations were attenuated among those who reported using marijuana at least once, but not in the past 30 days, suggesting that the impact of marijuana use on insulin and insulin resistance exists during periods of recent use.

5 Rodondi N.

Pletcher M.J.

Liu K.

Hulley S.B.

Sidney S. Marijuana use, diet, body mass index, and cardiovascular risk factors (from the CARDIA study). 4 Smit E.

Crespo C.J. Dietary intake and nutritional status of US adult marijuana users: results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. , 6 Le Strat Y.

Le Foll B. Obesity and cannabis use: results from 2 representative national surveys. 7 Rajavashisth T.B.

Shaheen M.

Norris K.C.

et al. Decreased prevalence of diabetes in marijuana users: cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III. 11 Weiss L.

Zeira M.

Reich S.

et al. Cannabidiol lowers incidence of diabetes in non-obese diabetic mice. There have been discrepant findings on the relationship between marijuana use and BMI. A study of young adults examining associations between marijuana use and cardiovascular risk factors reported no significant trend between marijuana use and BMI,whereas analyses of 2 large nationally representative surveys found lower BMI and decreased prevalence of obesity.Few studies have explored possible underlying explanations for these associations. However, a recent analysis using NHANES III data showed that marijuana users had a lower prevalence of diabetes mellitus compared with nonusers;similar results have been found with administration of cannabidiol in a mouse model.In the present study, we demonstrate a significant association between current marijuana use and lower levels of fasting insulin and insulin resistance in multivariable adjusted analyses even after excluding participants with prevalent diabetes mellitus.

9-tetrahydrocannabinol, which acts as a partial agonist at both the cannabinoid type 1 and 2 receptors, and cannabidiol, which has lower affinity for the cannabinoid receptors but appears to antagonize both cannabinoid type 1 and 2. 12 Pertwee R.G. The diverse CB1 and CB2 receptor pharmacology of three plant cannabinoids: delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol and delta9-tetrahydrocannabivarin. , 13 Petitet F.

Jeantaud B.

Reibaud M.

Imperato A.

Dubroeucq M.-C. Complex pharmacology of natural cannabinoids: evidence for partial agonist activity of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and antagonist activity of cannabidiol on rat brain cannabinoid receptors. 12 Pertwee R.G. The diverse CB1 and CB2 receptor pharmacology of three plant cannabinoids: delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol and delta9-tetrahydrocannabivarin. , 14 Hirvonen J.

Goodwin R.S.

Li C.T.

et al. Reversible and regionally selective downregulation of brain cannabinoid CB1 receptors in chronic daily cannabis smokers. Particular focus has been given to the plant cannabinoid (-)-trans-Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol, which acts as a partial agonist at both the cannabinoid type 1 and 2 receptors, and cannabidiol, which has lower affinity for the cannabinoid receptors but appears to antagonize both cannabinoid type 1 and 2.In addition, it has been found that repeated administration of cannabinoids reduces cannabinoid type 1 receptor density, producing a tolerance to its physiologic effects.Thus, a dose-response relationship may be expected; however, we did not find any evidence of this in the present study.

15 Migrenne S.

Lacombe A.

Lefèvre A.-L.

et al. Adiponectin is required to mediate rimonabant-induced improvement of insulin sensitivity but not body weight loss in diet-induced obese mice. 16 Sowers J.R. Endocrine functions of adipose tissue: focus on adiponectin. 17 Wierzbicki A.

Pendleton S.

McMahon Z.

et al. Rimonabant improves cholesterol, insulin resistance and markers of non-alcoholic fatty liver in morbidly obese patients: a retrospective cohort study. 18 Després J.-P.

Golay A.

Sjöström L. Effects of rimonabant on metabolic risk factors in overweight patients with dyslipidemia. 19 Levendal R.

Schumann D.

Donath M.

Frost C. Cannabis exposure associated with weight reduction and β-cell protection in an obese rat model. 20 Ravinet Trillou C.

Delgorge C.

Menet C.

Arnone M.

Soubrié P. CB1 cannabinoid receptor knockout in mice leads to leanness, resistance to diet-induced obesity and enhanced leptin sensitivity. 9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol, are classified as partial agonists and antagonists, respectively, and are thus capable of producing antagonistic effects at the cannabinoid receptors, it is possible that the associations observed in the aforementioned studies, as well as in the present study, are due at least in part to this adiponectin-mediated mechanism. Although not completely elucidated, the mechanisms by which cannabinoids affect peripheral metabolism via these receptors have been studied extensively; the cannabinoid type 1 receptor antagonist, rimonabant, was found to improve insulin sensitivity in wild-type mice, but not in adiponectin knockout mice, suggesting that adiponectin at least partially mediates the improvement in insulin sensitivity;adiponectin has been reported to improve insulin sensitivity.This rimonabant-induced improvement in insulin resistance has been confirmed in human studies.Furthermore, in a randomized clinical trial, rimonabant was significantly associated with an increase in plasma adiponectin levels, as well as weight loss and a reduction in waist circumference.Cannabis itself, when administered to obese rats, was associated with weight reduction and an increase in the weight of pancreata, implying beta-cell protection.In addition, cannabinoid type 1 knockout mice are resistant to diet-induced obesity, suggesting that the role of this receptor is central in the metabolic processes leading to obesity.Given that 2 of the main active phytocannabinoids in marijuana, (-)-trans-Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol, are classified as partial agonists and antagonists, respectively, and are thus capable of producing antagonistic effects at the cannabinoid receptors, it is possible that the associations observed in the aforementioned studies, as well as in the present study, are due at least in part to this adiponectin-mediated mechanism.

In our analyses, we presented alternative models, controlling for BMI as a potential confounder of the relationship between marijuana use and the remainder of the cardiometabolic parameters. We generated this model because of the potential for BMI to affect marijuana use and independently affect the cardiometabolic parameters. On the other hand, BMI may be a mediator of the association between marijuana use and the cardiometabolic outcomes, and thus was excluded from our primary multivariable model.