Cardiometabolic Risk for Cardiovascular Disease
May 2, 2006 by Lei
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Ever heard of the endocannabinoid (EC) system? Me neither until today. The EC system regulates bodily processes involved in insulin resistance and diabetes including:
- Body weight
- Energy balance
- Glucose homeostasis
- Production and accumulation of triglycerides in adipose tissue and liver
All these factors come together to determine the overall cardiometabolic risk of cardiovascular disease.
Dr. Louis Aronne:
It seems as though the EC system receptors are overactivated when ‘fattening foods’ are consumed and weight is gained. This overactivation leads to an increase in food intake and more fat production in the liver. Eventually, what starts out as just eating the wrong foods will lead to the development of obesity, cardiometabolic risks, and heart disease.
A vicious cycle that researchers are hoping to stop by blocking the EC system receptors. Drugs are already in phase 3 and 4 clinical trials and results are promising. People on EC receptor blockers reduce food intake, lose weight, lower triglycerides and glucose, and increase good cholesterol (HDL).
Cardiovascular disease is truly a complex interaction of risk factors that all need to be addressed. Perhaps EC receptor blockers are the answer.
Medical News Today, May 2, 2006
Technorati Tags: cardiometabolic risk, cardiovascular disease, cvd, cardio, heart disease, heart, disease, health, endocannabinoid
