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. 2015;4(1):9-16.

METABOLIC EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA USE AMONG BLACKS

C Racine  1 , M Vincent  1 , A Rogers  2 , M Donat  1 , N I Ojike  2 , O Necola  3 , E Yousef  3 , A Masters-Israilov  3 , G Jean-Louis  2 , S I McFarlane  3
Affiliations

METABOLIC EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA USE AMONG BLACKS

C Racine et al. J Dis Glob Health. 2015.

Abstract

Background: Increased legalization of marijuana has resulted in renewed interest in its effects on body weight and cardiometabolic risk. Conflicting data exist regarding marijuana effects on body weight, waist circumference as well as lipid profiles, blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, there is a dearth of data available on this effect in the black population.

Objective: To assess the metabolic profile and cardiovascular risk factors as well as body weight and waist circumference among urban black marijuana users.

Methods: A cross sectional study design involving 100 patients seen in a Family Practice clinic at University hospital of Brooklyn, NY, USA, over a period of 3 months from January 2014 to March 2014. Participants were administered a questionnaire regarding marijuana use, and other associated behaviors. Socio-demographic, laboratory, and clinical data were collected. We report measures of central tendencies, and dispersion for continuous variables and the frequency of distribution for categorical variables.

Results: Of the 100 patients surveyed, 57% were females. The mean (±SEM) age of the entire cohort was 46.3 years±1.5; range, 19-78 years. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 29.6 kg/m2±0.73; SBP=128.0 mmHg±1.69; DBP=76.1 mmHg±1.17. Current marijuana users had the lowest waist circumference compared to former or never users respectively (32.9±0.66 vs. 35.9±0.88 vs. 33.4±0.74), p<0.01. Diastolic blood pressure in mmHg was significantly higher among former marijuana users compared to current or never users, (80.0±2.1 vs. 73.3±2.3 vs. 73.4±1.6), p<0.01. Current marijuana users showed a tendency (not statistically significant) towards lower total cholesterol, Triglycerides (TG), High Density Lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, body mass index (BMI) and systolic blood pressure, compared to former users or never users.

Conclusion: Current marijuana use is associated with significantly lower waist circumference, compared to former users and never users. Except for diastolic BP that was significantly lower among current users, other metabolic parameters showed tendency towards favorable profile. Further studies are needed to characterize the metabolic effects and to elucidate mechanisms of actions of marijuana in view of its rapid rate of utilization in the USA and around the world.

Keywords: Marijuana; black population; body weight; metabolic risk factors.

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Conflict of interest statement

POTENTIAL COMPETING INTEREST / DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

The authors have read the journal’s policy and declare that they have no proprietary, financial, professional, nor any other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product or services and / or company that could be construed or considered to be a potential conflict of interest that might have influenced the views expressed in this manuscript.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Effects of marijuana use on waist circumference in inches. Current users have significantly lower waist circumference
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Effects of marijuana use on body mass index kg/m2. Current users had lower BMI, compared to former users or never users, results did not reach statistical significance but showed a trend P = 0.09
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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