Blood Markers of the Endocannabinoid System Differed in Substance Use Disorder With and Without ADHD
People with substance use disorder showed altered blood levels of endocannabinoid-related molecules, with distinct patterns when ADHD was also present.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
SUD patients had lower plasma 2-AG and 2-LG and elevated acylethanolamides vs controls. ADHD comorbidity was associated with additional reductions in AEA, DGLEA, DHEA, and SEA, while PEA was elevated. Machine learning identified AEA, OEA, PEA, and SEA as key biomarkers with 72.1% accuracy.
Key Numbers
469 participants. Machine learning accuracy: 72.1%, ROC-AUC: 0.77. Key biomarkers: AEA, OEA, PEA, SEA.
How They Did This
Exploratory study of 469 participants: 136 controls, 267 SUD-only, 66 SUD+ADHD. Measured 12 endocannabinoid-related molecules via HPLC-MS/MS. Elastic Net regression for biomarker identification.
Why This Research Matters
Blood-based biomarkers for SUD and ADHD comorbidity could improve diagnosis and guide treatment.
The Bigger Picture
The endocannabinoid system is increasingly recognized as involved in both addiction and attention disorders. Blood-based biomarkers could help identify patients for ECS-targeted treatments.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design. Exploratory analysis needs independent validation. Plasma levels may not reflect brain ECS activity.
Questions This Raises
- ?Can these biomarkers predict treatment response?
- ?Do the ECS alterations precede or follow substance use?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Machine learning identified endocannabinoid biomarkers with 72% accuracy
- Evidence Grade:
- Exploratory cross-sectional study; biomarkers need validation in independent samples.
- Study Age:
- 2025 study
- Original Title:
- Exploratory study on plasma Acylglycerol and Acylethanolamide dysregulation in substance use and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Implications for novel biomarkers in dual diagnosis.
- Published In:
- Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry, 138, 111350 (2025)
- Authors:
- Flores-López, María, Herrera-Imbroda, Jesús, Requena-Ocaña, Nerea, García-Marchena, Nuria, Araos, Pedro, Verheul-Campos, Julia, Ruiz, Juan Jesús, Pastor, Antoni, de la Torre, Rafael, Bordallo, Antonio, Pavón-Morón, Francisco Javier, Rodríguez de Fonseca, Fernando, Serrano, Antonia
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06470
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What are endocannabinoid-related molecules?
The body produces its own cannabis-like molecules that regulate mood, pain, and attention. This study measured 12 related molecules in blood plasma.
Could this lead to a blood test for addiction or ADHD?
Potentially. The 72% accuracy is a promising start, but needs validation in larger, independent groups.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06470APA
Flores-López, María; Herrera-Imbroda, Jesús; Requena-Ocaña, Nerea; García-Marchena, Nuria; Araos, Pedro; Verheul-Campos, Julia; Ruiz, Juan Jesús; Pastor, Antoni; de la Torre, Rafael; Bordallo, Antonio; Pavón-Morón, Francisco Javier; Rodríguez de Fonseca, Fernando; Serrano, Antonia. (2025). Exploratory study on plasma Acylglycerol and Acylethanolamide dysregulation in substance use and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Implications for novel biomarkers in dual diagnosis.. Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry, 138, 111350. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2025.111350
MLA
Flores-López, María, et al. "Exploratory study on plasma Acylglycerol and Acylethanolamide dysregulation in substance use and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Implications for novel biomarkers in dual diagnosis.." Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2025.111350
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Exploratory study on plasma Acylglycerol and Acylethanolamid..." RTHC-06470. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/flores-lopez-2025-exploratory-study-on-plasma
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.