Cannabis use and metabolic syndrome among clients with first episode psychosis

Abstract

Aim: To explore the relationship between cannabis use and metabolic syndrome (MetS) among those who have experienced first episode psychosis (FEP).Methods: A retrospective analysis of 404 participants enrolled in the Recovery After Initial Schizophrenia Episode-Early Treatment Program (RAISE-ETP) was conducted.Using multiple logistic regression, we investigated the correlation between cannabis use and rate of MetS at baseline and across time as well as the specific metabolic derangements among cannabis users and abstainers.Results: Although cannabis users had similar rates of MetS at baseline when compared with abstainers, those who used cannabis at any time during the study period tended to have lower triglycerides and elevated high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Cannabis users were less likely to develop MetS, relative to nonusers.Conclusions: Cannabis use may be associated with lower incidence of MetS in patients who have experienced FEP. Further research is indicated to develop these observations.

Risk factors for metabolic syndrome in individuals with recent-onset psychosis at disease onset and after 1-year follow-up

“…Concerning lifestyle, patients consumed more calories and exercised less, and more patients consumed tobacco, cannabis and alcohol on a daily basis than HC subjects. These results are in line with previously published studies and indicate the high prevalence of unhealthy habits in the early stages of psychotic disorders and the necessity of developing specific and intensive programs to improve health habits 24 – 26 . Some remarkable results of the present study were the changes at the 1-year follow-up in patients with ROP.…”

“…In individuals with psychotic disorders, MetS has been associated with genetic variation 7 , 8 , mitochondrial dysfunction 9 – 12 , antipsychotic treatment 13 – 16 , clinical severity 6 , 17 , unhealthy lifestyle habits 18 – 20 and a primary alteration of the innate immune system (imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory responses) 21 , 22 . Particularly, patients with FEP show an energy balance exceeding 26% 23 and consumed more saturated fat and exercised less 24 – 26 . Poor dietary habits have been associated with increased BMI and abdominal obesity 24 and cholesterol levels 26 .…”

“…Particularly, patients with FEP show an energy balance exceeding 26% 23 and consumed more saturated fat and exercised less 24 – 26 . Poor dietary habits have been associated with increased BMI and abdominal obesity 24 and cholesterol levels 26 . In addition, tobacco and alcohol consumption has been associated with some components of MetS in FEP patients 27 , 28 and in the general population 29 , 30 .…”

“…In addition, tobacco and alcohol consumption has been associated with some components of MetS in FEP patients 27 , 28 and in the general population 29 , 30 . The relationship between cannabis use and the metabolic components of MetS is not well understood 24 , 31 , 32 . Finally, inflammation may also play a role in the pathogenesis of psychoses, with an elevation of specific cytokines and inflammatory mediators such as fibrinogen and C-reactive protein (CRP) 33 – 36 .…”

Metabolic syndrome in antipsychotic-naïve patients with first-episode psychosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…In terms of limitations related to the included studies in meta-analysis, two studies (Owiredu et al, 2012;Saloojee et al, 2018) were the only ones conducted on Afro-descendant ethnicity and the overall prevalence increased when those were removed in sensitivity analyses. However, one of them (Saloojee et al, 2018) was the only study that reported cannabis consumption, which has been associated with low odds of MetS in both general population (Vidot et al, 2016) and patients with FEP (Stiles, Alcover, Stiles, Oluwoye, & McDonell, 2020), low odds of overweightness and low odds of non-alcoholic fatty liver in patients with FEP. We were not able to see the influence of cannabis on prevalence accurately.…”