Endocannabinoid control of food intake and energy balance

Nat Neurosci. 2005 May;8(5):585-9. doi: 10.1038/nn1457.

Abstract

Marijuana and its major psychotropic component, Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol, stimulate appetite and increase body weight in wasting syndromes, suggesting that the CB(1) cannabinoid receptor and its endogenous ligands, the endocannabinoids, are involved in controlling energy balance. The endocannabinoid system controls food intake via both central and peripheral mechanisms, and it may also stimulate lipogenesis and fat accumulation. Here we discuss the multifaceted regulation of energy homeostasis by endocannabinoids, together with its applications to the treatment of eating disorders and metabolic syndromes.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue / drug effects
  • Adipose Tissue / metabolism
  • Adipose Tissue / physiopathology
  • Animals
  • Anti-Obesity Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Obesity Agents / therapeutic use
  • Appetite Regulation / drug effects
  • Appetite Regulation / physiology*
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / agonists
  • Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / metabolism*
  • Endocannabinoids*
  • Energy Metabolism / drug effects
  • Energy Metabolism / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Neural Pathways / metabolism
  • Neural Pathways / physiopathology
  • Obesity / drug therapy
  • Obesity / metabolism
  • Obesity / physiopathology
  • Piperidines / pharmacology
  • Piperidines / therapeutic use
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacology
  • Pyrazoles / therapeutic use
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / agonists
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / metabolism*
  • Rimonabant

Substances

  • Anti-Obesity Agents
  • Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators
  • Endocannabinoids
  • Piperidines
  • Pyrazoles
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1
  • Rimonabant