Lisano, JK, Smith, JD, Mathias, AB, Christensen, M, Smoak, P, Phillips, KT, Quinn, CJ, and Stewart, LK. Performance and health-related characteristics of physically active men using marijuana. J Strength Cond Res 33(6): 1659–1669, 2019—The influence of chronic marijuana use on the performance and health of physically active individuals has yet to be fully elucidated. The purpose of this study was to explore pulmonary function, aerobic and anaerobic fitness, strength, serum testosterone, cortisol, C-reactive protein (CRP), Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH), and 11-hydroxy-Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-OH) concentrations in a physically active population either using or not using marijuana. Healthy, physically active males (N = 24) were compared based on their marijuana-use status: marijuana users (MU; n = 12) and nonusers (NU; n = 12). Statistical analysis (p = 0.05) revealed no difference between groups for age, body mass, body mass index, body fat, forced expiratory volume in 1 second percentage, Vo 2max, anaerobic power output, strength measures, testosterone, or cortisol concentrations. Although not statistically significant, MU showed a trend to fatigue to a greater percentage of absolute power output than NU from the beginning to the end of the Wingate Anaerobic Power Assessment (p = 0.08, effect size = 0.75). C-reactive protein in MU (1.76 ± 2.81 mg·L−1) and NU (0.86 ± 1.49 mg·L−1) was not significantly different (p = 0.60) but placed MU at moderate risk and NU at low risk for cardiovascular disease. Anaerobic fatigue was the only performance variable to show a trend for difference between groups. These results suggest that marijuana use in physically active males may not have significant effects on performance; however, it may be linked to elevated concentrations of CRP which place users at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease.
Purpose The purpose of this cross‐sectional study is to compare measures of general health, circulating concentrations of nerve growth factor (NGF), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), c‐reactive protein (CRP), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and cortisol in physically active cannabis users (CU) and physically active non‐cannabis users (NU). Methods Participants (N=30; n=20 male) were defined as CU (n=15; n=10 male) if they were using cannabis products at least once a week for the past 6‐months or NU (n=15; n=10 male) if they had not used any cannabis products in the past 6‐months. Age, height, weight, and body composition were assessed. Resting heart rate (HR) was obtained using a Polar heart rate monitor and VO2max, as a measure of cardiovascular fitness, was assessed with a ParvoMedics metabolic cart using a graded treadmill protocol. Fasted and rested intravenous blood samples were collected and ELISAs were used to obtain NGF, BDNF, CRP, IL‐6, and cortisol concentrations. Data are presented as mean ± SD and analyzed with a student's t‐test (alpha=0.05). Results CU used cannabis products an average of 4.5±2.5 times per week. There were no significant differences between CU and NU age (23.4±4.4 yrs), height (177.6±8.2 cm), weight (75.7±15.5 kg), body composition, or VO2max (50.3±7.4 ml/kg/min). HR was significantly higher in CU (72.7±15.9 bpm) compared to NU (62.5±7.9 bpm) (p=0.04). Concentrations of BDNF were significantly lower in CU (5.6±0.8 ng/mL) compared to NU (6.3±0.8 ng/mL) (p=0.02). There were no differences in concentration of NGF (193.7±71.6 pg/mL), CRP (CU=1.0± 1.83; NU=0.5±0.4 mg/L), IL‐6 (1.28±0.6 pg/mL), or cortisol (19.8±7.0 ng/mL). Conclusions Although aspects of general health appeared to be similar between NU and CU groups, this study revealed elevated resting HR and reduced BDNF concentrations in CU compared to NU. Although there were no differences between groups with respect to bio‐markers of stress (IL‐6, CRP and cortisol); CU were classified as moderate risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to low CVD risk for NU as defined by CRP concentrations. This study suggests that chronic cannabis use is associated with altered central and peripheral synaptic plasticity, as well as the potential for increased CVD risk classification in physically active individuals. Support or Funding Information This research was funded by the University of Northern Colorado New Projects Program Grant, University of Northern Colorado Graduate Student Association and Natural and Health Sciences Student Grants. This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Background: The control of chronic inflammation has emerged as a target for improving the health of cancer survivors (CS). Aim: To examine differences in fitness and dietary characteristics of CS when grouped by low vs. moderate to high serum C-reactive protein (CRP). Methods: CS ( N = 26, mean age = 68 ± 12 years) were evaluated for body mass index (BMI), body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, dietary intake, dietary inflammatory index (DII), and serum CRP. Participants were assigned to one of two groups based on serum CRP concentrations: low CRP (≤1 mg/L) (LWC; n = 13) or moderate to high (CRP > 1 mg/L) (MHC; n = 13) and t-tests compared them. Data are presented as mean ± SD. Results: LWC had higher VO2peak values (mL/kg/min) ( p = 0.0003), and lower visceral fat area (cm2) ( p = 0.02) and body fat mass (kg) ( p = 0.04). Secondary analysis using Pearson’s correlation coefficients, including all current study participant data, found significant negative relationships between CRP and total dietary fat intake ( p = 0.02), saturated fat ( p = 0.03), and polyunsaturated fat ( p = 0.03). Conclusion: CS with moderate to high serum CRP concentrations had higher fat mass, visceral fat mass, and lower cardiorespiratory fitness. There was a significant negative relationship between dietary, fat, polyunsaturated and saturated fat, and CRP. However, these dietary fat related findings warrant further investigation. To summarize, improving cardiorespiratory fitness, maintaining lower body fat, may be helpful in altering chronic inflammation in CS.
26Abstract 27 Background and Aims: Past research has shown that cannabis use is common among adults in the U.S. In 28 addition, physical activity (PA), such as exercise, is often a component of many American's daily 29 routines. Anecdotal information suggests that a subset of individuals use cannabis in conjunction with 30 PA, but the evidence base is lacking. The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency, methods of 31 ingestion, strain types, and timing (before, during or after) of cannabis use in combination with PA. We 32 also sought to better understand the types of PA that cannabis is being used with and reasons why 33 individuals may use cannabis with PA. 34 Methods and Results: A brief survey was developed and was administered online to community residents 35 (N = 105) who reported use of cannabis with PA. Analysis of survey responses revealed that participants 36 were using cannabis in combination with a wide range of physical activities. While cannabis use was 37 reported before, during, and after PA, the majority of participants (92%) reported use of cannabis before 38 PA. Most participants (77%) believed that the use of cannabis products with their PA had a positive effect 39 on their performance. The strain of cannabis used with PA was dependent on timing of cannabis use 40 before, during, or after PA. Although participants reported a range of reasons for using cannabis before, 41 during, or after PA, pain management was the only reason reported across all time periods. 59Phytocannabinoids, the active components in cannabis, mimic the effects of the endogenous 60 cannabinoids in the body (2). Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the two 61 most abundant phytocannabinoids present in cannabis products, and have received the most attention 62 from the scientific community. However, THC and CBD are just two of more than 100 known 63 phytocannabinoids (3) and the effects of these compounds have yet to be fully elucidated. Products of the 64 cannabis plant can further be described by their cultivar, or strain, and are often separated into two 65 general categories: Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Sativa (4), with varying hybrids of the two strains.66 Among medical cannabis users, common reasons for the use of Cannabis Indica include pain 67 management and as an aid in sedation and sleep, while Cannabis Sativa users often prefer this strain for 68 its perceived induction of euphoria and energy enhancement (5). Although exploration of the medicinal 69 and psychoactive effects of cannabis products is still in its infancy, interest related to cannabis use on 70 physical activity (PA) is also emerging. 71Within the U.S., just over half (51.7%) of adults over the age of 18 years met the federal PA 72 guidelines of at least 150-minutes of moderate or 75-minutes of vigorous activity per week (6). Currently, 73 although there is minimal research describing how and why the physically active general population is 74 using cannabis with PA, there have been several studies investigating c...
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