Belly fat and endocannabinoids leads to questioning of our free will

I like to research the medical literature and find things that have unexpected influences on our personalities. Today's post is about belly fat, of all things.

Endocannabinoids are natural versions of the active ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), in marijuana. THC and similar natural endocannabinoids stimulate appetite. The weight loss drug, Acomplia (rimonabant) works by blocking the receptors to endocannabinoids.

(1) is a study of subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue. This fat was shown to metabolize endogenous endocannabinoids. Consider the appetite implications. Lowering of endocannabinoids might lower appetite. Conversely, if the fat were removed as with liposuction appetite might increase. The study states that "human adipose tissue" is able to "metabolize endocannabinoids." I suspect this comment overstates the facts. All human adipose tissue was not studied. Only superficial belly fat was studied.

My observations and readings suggest this fat is unique in our body. For example, I have literally dieted to the point my bones started to deteriorate and still not been able to rid myself of this fat. I maybe got rid of a third of it. Meanwhile the rest of me had the anorexic look. I finally gave up and figure when I have some other surgeries in the future I'll have it moved north a bit.

(2) mentions that Acomplia might be useful for treating various addictions. The mechanism is by blocking the endocannabinoid receptor the feel good effects of addictive substances ranging from rich foods, to tobacco to alcohol and more would be blocked.

Besides the fact that my research shows this is likely to increase cancer risk long term I find the philosophy behind the approach abysmal. As an analogy imagine a person with a sky high libido. This sort of approach would cure the "problem" by eliminating the libido. I think a better approach would be to introduce the person to someone with an equally high libido. Why in the world would be want to limit addictive personalities when the same qualities in a person could be used to become addicted to productive things? I see Acomplia good for short term use only but suspect many people will use it long term rather than take the time to develop alternative addictions less harmful to themselves or even beneficial.

Anyway, I find it amazing to what extent our personalities are affected by things like belly fat, diet, our hormone status and much more. Do we really have the power of self determination or are we simply responding to our internal and external environments?

1. Biochimie. 2006 Dec;88(12):1889-97 Human adipose tissue binds and metabolizes the endocannabinoids anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol.
Spoto B, Fezza F, Parlongo G, Battista N, Sgro' E, Gasperi V, Zoccali C, Maccarrone M.
CNR-IBIM, National Research Council Institute of Biomedicine-Clinical Epidemiology and Physiophatology of Renal Disease and Hypertension & Urology Unit, c/o Ki Point-Gransial Srl, Via Filippini, n.85, 89125 Reggio Calabria, Italy.
Endocannabinoids are a group of biologically active endogenous lipids that have recently emerged as important mediators in energy balance control. The two best studied endocannabinoids, anandamide (N-arachidonoylethanolamine, AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) are the endogenous ligands of the central and peripheral cannabinoid receptors. Furthermore, AEA binds to the transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1 (TRPV1), a capsaicin-sensitive, non-selective cation channel. The synthesis of these endocannabinoids is catalyzed by the N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine-selective phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD) and the sn-1-selective diacylglycerol lipase (DAGL), whereas their degradation is accomplished by the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and the monoglyceride lipase (MGL), respectively. We investigated the presence of a functional endocannabinoid system in human adipose tissue from seven healthy subjects. Subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue underwent biochemical and molecular biology analyses, aimed at testing the expression of this system and its functional activity. AEA and 2-AG levels were detected and quantified by HPLC. Real time PCR analyzed the expression of the endocannabinoid system and immunofluorescence assays showed the distribution of its components in the adipose tissue. Furthermore, binding assay for the cannabinoid and vanilloid receptors and activity assay for each metabolic enzyme of the endocannabinoid system gave clear evidence of a fully operating system. The data presented herein show for the first time that the human adipose tissue is able to bind AEA and 2-AG and that it is endowed with the biochemical machinery to metabolize endocannabinoids.PMID: 16949718

2. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/11/09/health/main654629.shtml

NEW YORK, Nov. 15, 2004(AP / CBS)

(AP) A pill that helps you lose weight and quit smoking? That was amazing enough to capture headlines last week. But scientists say the experimental drug might be even more versatile, providing a new tool to help people stop abusing drugs and alcohol, too.
It's called rimonabant, or Acomplia, and last week researchers reported it could help people not only lose weight but keep it off for two years.

That burnished the drug's reputation after two studies in March, which suggested it could fight both obesity and smoking, two of humanity's biggest killers.
The French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi Aventis SA plans to seek federal approval for rimonabant next year.
But the drug's benefits may go beyond just smokers and obese people, researchers say.

"I think it's going to have a big impact on the treatment of addiction," said Dr. Charles O'Brien, an addiction expert at the University of Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Animal studies suggest rimonabant can block the effects of marijuana and fight relapse in alcohol and cocaine abuse, he said. Once it is approved for treating obesity or smoking, "we'll be free to study it in these other areas and I'll try to get my hands on it as quickly as possible," O'Brien said.


Nerissa