The Endocannabinoid System Plays a Major Role in Gut Health and Disease
The gastrointestinal tract has a fully functional endocannabinoid system that controls motility, sensation, nausea, barrier integrity, and cellular environment, offering therapeutic targets for IBS, IBD, and colorectal cancer.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
The GI tract expresses endocannabinoids, their receptors, and metabolizing enzymes. This system participates in motor and sensory activity, nausea/emesis, epithelial barrier maintenance, and cellular homeostasis. Cannabinoid agents may normalize dysmotility and reduce pain in IBS, decrease inflammation in IBD, and play a role in regulating the cell niche in colorectal cancer.
Key Numbers
Covers four major GI conditions: IBS, IBD, colorectal cancer, and chemotherapy-induced GI side effects (nausea/vomiting, constipation, diarrhea).
How They Did This
Review of recent findings on cannabinoid receptors, natural and synthetic ligands, and metabolizing enzymes in normal GI function and in IBS, IBD, colon cancer, and chemotherapy-induced GI side effects.
Why This Research Matters
Gastrointestinal disorders affect millions of people, and current treatments are often inadequate. The discovery that the GI tract has its own endocannabinoid system opens multiple new therapeutic avenues.
The Bigger Picture
Cannabis has been used for GI complaints for thousands of years. Modern science is now revealing the molecular basis for these effects, potentially leading to targeted cannabinoid therapies that avoid psychoactive side effects.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Review covers a broad area with varying levels of evidence across conditions. Much evidence is preclinical. Clinical trial data for cannabinoids in GI disorders is still limited.
Questions This Raises
- ?Which GI condition is most likely to benefit from cannabinoid therapy?
- ?Could peripherally restricted cannabinoids treat GI disorders without CNS effects?
- ?How do different cannabinoids (THC vs CBD vs synthetic) compare for GI conditions?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Four GI applications identified: normalizing motility in IBS, reducing inflammation in IBD, regulating cell growth in colorectal cancer, and managing chemotherapy-induced GI side effects.
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate - comprehensive review of substantial basic science with emerging clinical evidence, though clinical data remains limited.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2018. GI cannabinoid research has continued to expand.
- Original Title:
- Cannabinoid pharmacology and therapy in gut disorders.
- Published In:
- Biochemical pharmacology, 157, 134-147 (2018)
- Authors:
- Uranga, J A, Vera, G, Abalo, R
- Database ID:
- RTHC-01863
Evidence Hierarchy
Summarizes existing research on a topic.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Can cannabis help with IBS?
The endocannabinoid system plays a major role in gut motility and sensation. This review found evidence that cannabinoid agents could normalize dysmotility and reduce pain in IBS, though clinical trial data is still limited.
Does the gut have its own cannabinoid system?
Yes. The GI tract has a complete endocannabinoid system including receptors, endocannabinoids, and metabolizing enzymes. This system helps control movement, sensation, nausea, barrier integrity, and the cellular environment throughout the digestive tract.
Read More on RethinkTHC
- CBD-oil-quality-guide
- anxiety-medication-after-quitting-weed
- cannabis-chemotherapy-nausea
- cannabis-chronic-pain-research
- cannabis-epilepsy-CBD-Epidiolex
- cbd-anxiety-research-evidence
- cbd-for-weed-withdrawal
- cbd-vs-thc-difference
- medical-benefits-of-cannabis
- quitting-weed-before-surgery
- quitting-weed-medication-interactions
- quitting-weed-pregnancy
- quitting-weed-pregnant
- seniors-older-adults-cannabis-risks-medications
- weed-breastfeeding-THC-breast-milk
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-01863APA
Uranga, J A; Vera, G; Abalo, R. (2018). Cannabinoid pharmacology and therapy in gut disorders.. Biochemical pharmacology, 157, 134-147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcp.2018.07.048
MLA
Uranga, J A, et al. "Cannabinoid pharmacology and therapy in gut disorders.." Biochemical pharmacology, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcp.2018.07.048
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabinoid pharmacology and therapy in gut disorders." RTHC-01863. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/uranga-2018-cannabinoid-pharmacology-and-therapy
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.