The Role of Endocannabinoid System in Menopause and Its Related-Diseases

Abstract

Menopause is a crucial event in women’s health, characterized by the cessation of ovarian function. The estrogens deficiency exposes women to several diseases, including obesity, osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Menopause-related diseases deeply impact on women’s quality of life and represent a serious public and economic health burden. The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) includes Cannabinoid Type 1 (CB1) and Cannabinoid Type 2 (CB2) receptors, endocannabinoids and all the enzymes involved in their biosynthesis and degradation. It plays a significant role in energy balance, bone metabolism, muscular contractility, vascular tone and cancer progression. CB1 activation is responsible for increasing food intake and body weight, stimulating osteoclast activity, inhibiting oxidative stress and preventing cancer progression. Conversely, the stimulation of CB2 induces a reduction in food intake and in body weight, inhibits osteoclast activity, prevents vascular risk and reduces cancer cells proliferation. Moreover, several polymorphic variants of cannabinoid receptors genes are involved into obesity and osteoporosis. In menopause, the alteration of cannabinoid receptors expression and endocannabinoids levels as well as their role in hormone-related pathways could act a leading role in different pathologies (obesity, osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases and cancer). Therefore, ECS could be considered a possible prognostic marker and a therapeutic target to oppose the harmful effects of these menopause-related diseases. In this review we aimed to summarize the current state-of-knowledge concerning the impact of ECS on major health issues of postmenopausal women.