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Comment
. 2019 May 13:12:1178638819847480.
doi: 10.1177/1178638819847480. eCollection 2019.

Potential Mechanisms Influencing the Inverse Relationship Between Cannabis and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Commentary

Pratima Dibba  1 , Andrew A Li  2 , George Cholankeril  3 , Muhammad Ali Khan  4 , Donghee Kim  3 , Aijaz Ahmed  3
Affiliations
Comment

Potential Mechanisms Influencing the Inverse Relationship Between Cannabis and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Commentary

Pratima Dibba et al. Nutr Metab Insights. .

Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) develops when the liver is unable to oxidize or export excess free fatty acids generated by adipose tissue lipolysis, de novo lipogenesis, or dietary intake. Although treatment has generally been centered on reversing metabolic risk factors that increase the likelihood of NAFLD by influencing lifestyle modifications, therapeutic modalities are being studied at the cellular and molecular level. The endocannabinoid system has been of recent focus. The agonism and antagonism of cannabinoid receptors play roles in biochemical mechanisms involved in the development or regression of NAFLD. Exocannabinoids and endocannabinoids, the ligands which bind cannabinoid receptors, have been studied in this regard. Exocannabinoids found in cannabis (marijuana) may have a therapeutic benefit. Our recent study demonstrated an inverse association between marijuana use and NAFLD among adults in the United States. This commentary combines knowledge on the role of the endocannabinoid system in the setting of NAFLD with the findings in our article to hypothesize different potential mechanisms that may influence the inverse relationship between cannabis and NAFLD.

Keywords: NAFLD; NASH; cannabinoids; cannabis; endocannabinoid; endocannabinoid system; exocannabinoid; marijuana; nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests:The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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