'Marijuana' Diet Pill May Be Possible, Endocannabinoid Study Suggests

By: Jennifer Welsh, LiveScience Staff Writer
Published: 03/06/2012 12:30 PM EST on LiveScience

A dreamy diet pill that someday allows people to eat as much as they want without gaining weight seems possible, based on new research into certain brain chemicals that influence how quickly we burn fat.

Scientists used lab mice to turn down brain levels of endocannabinoids, chemicals produced by our bodies that are similar in molecular structure to the active ingredients in marijuana.

Previous research has found that endocannabinoids play an important role in regulating energy metabolism. In the new study, blocking the activity of endocannabinoids in the brain enabled mice to stay skinny without exercise or dieting. The researchers explained that the mice were in a "hypermetabolic state," in which their bodies were using up energy (that is, calories) at a much higher rate than normal.

"We discovered that these mice were resistant to obesity because they burned fat calories much more efficiently than normal mice do," study researcher Daniele Piomelli, a professor at the University of California, Irvine, said in a statement. "We had known that endocannabinoids play a critical role in cell energy regulation, but this is the first time we found a target where this occurs."

This target is a compound called 2-AG, found in high levels in mammalian brains, and researchers think it plays a role in the brain circuits controlling how the body uses energy, which we get from food.

A previous study by Piomelli found these compounds make us crave fat. To see if lowering the levels of these compounds had the opposite effect, Piomelli engineered the brain cells of mice to express only low levels of this compound, then compared the animals' behavior and health with that of normal mice.

The modified mice ate more and moved less than their normal counterparts, but stayed skinny even on a high-fat diet. Not only did they look healthy, they had normal blood pressure, and no increased risk of heart disease and diabetes that usually come with a high-fat diet.

The researchers determined that the modified mice's brown fat was overactive — it was being turned into heat much quicker than in the normal mice. Brown fat is a type of fat that keeps mammals warm, and this heat creation burns off excess energy.

Jumping from lab studies in mice to actual health benefits for humans is still a ways away, though, since it is difficult to make a drug that acts only in one brain area.

"To produce the desired effects, we would need to create a drug that blocks 2-AG production in the brain, something we're not yet able to do," Piomelli said. "So don't cancel that gym membership just yet."

The study was published today (March 6) in the journal Cell Metabolism.

You can follow LiveScience staff writer Jennifer Welsh on Twitter @microbelover. Follow LiveScience for the latest in science news and discoveries on Twitter @livescience and on Facebook.

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Comments

[francispaulson]

03:48 PM on 11/21/2012

This was aready done in 2006. The cannabinoid receptor drug was going to be marketted here as ACOMPLIA.... It was a good appetite suppressant and even improved memory, but it made a lot of people feel suicdal. The FDA never gave final approval.

[CaliGirl707]

01:52 PM on 03/13/2012

LOL - that is an oxymoron!!! I'm still for legalization, just like alcohol. At least pot has never killed anyone and if you O.D. you go to sleep instead being a DOA. I agree, nobody should drive under the influence of anything...cough medicine included!

[KrautMan]

11:51 AM on 03/13/2012

First world problems.

[Acorn Tree]

04:04 PM on 03/15/2012

yea but when we solve these problems the solutions trickle down to the third world eventually

[UrsaMagick]

05:32 PM on 03/25/2012

No, I think this applies to the US as well.

[firewired]

06:20 PM on 03/12/2012

Munchies, anyone?

[William Anderson LMHC]

08:59 AM on 03/12/2012

If it gives you the munchies at the same time, like smoking it does, it may end up being a draw, or worse, maybe people would get even fatter, if they out-eat the increased metabolism!

Also, being a recovered formerly overweight food addict who shows others how to end the food addiction, getting overweight is only part of the problem. If you are still a slave to an uncontrollable, unreasonable and inconvenient urge to eat all the time, it is still a big problem.

If the pill works, I want to find out about it, but until then, I'll be happy to have solved the weight problem without it, and when it comes along, I'll still need to be free of the eating addiction. In fact, if it comes along, the problem people have with compulsive eating might get worse!

William Anderson, LMHC
Author of 'The Anderson Method - Secrets of Permanent Weight Loss'
www.TheAndersonMethod.com

[Silken17]

02:29 PM on 03/12/2012

"If it gives you the munchies at the same time, like smoking it does, it may end up being a draw, or worse, maybe people would get even fatter, if they out-eat the increased metabolism! "

I'm afraid you misunderstood the article. Endocannabinoids have effects very similar to marijuana's THC. The article suggests the possibility of BLOCKING the body's natural endocannabinoids to INCREASE fat metabolism. Such a diet drug would have effects OPPOSITE those of marijuana and DECREASE appetite.

There is research to suggest that increased metabolism may decrease life span because it results in increased production of free radicals in the cell, particularly the mitochondria. The idea that getting rid of fat by "burning" it off is healthy is based more in popular belief than scientific research.

As you say, compulsive overeating is the single biggest cause of overweight.

[William Anderson LMHC]

04:04 PM on 03/12/2012

Speed-reading does have its downside. Thanks for the catch.

Decrease life span, eh? Unfortunately, I think many would use the pill even then. Look how they are buying into gastric surgery. I'm glad I finally got the problem solved with behavior therapy.

[fyngyrz]

02:45 PM on 03/14/2012

> Such a diet drug would have effects OPPOSITE those of marijuana and DECREASE appetite.

No, that's not what the article says either. Here's the "money quote":

"The modified mice ate more and moved less than their normal counterparts, but stayed skinny even on a high-fat diet. Not only did they look healthy, they had normal blood pressure, and no increased risk of heart disease and diabetes that usually come with a high-fat diet."

[locmic]

04:55 PM on 03/20/2012

William, I am here to tell you that drugs work most of the time on people, mostly on everyone in the population. So, if you were to use crack or cocaine, you will definitely notice a difference about you. The production of endocannabinoids is being mentioned here which include compounds of 2AG, they are saying that the reduction of endocannabinoids including the compound 2AG will lessen hunger and cause more energy to be burned off. It will be the result of a hyper metabolic state caused by energy being used up at a much higher rate than normal. Nevertheless, this is all clearly stated in the article on the marijuana diet pill. Saying that it may cause people to eat even more is an ironic outcome. When people smoke marijuana, it causes them to get hungry because of these similar molecular structures in the drug itself. So, if they are really related and the amount is reduced, it should cause the opposite affect. There are always downsides and things can go wrong but that is what perfection is all about. If you feel very smart, how about you get into the medicine world or neuroscience and fulfill this gap.

Brian Cuji

[William Anderson LMHC]

08:13 PM on 03/20/2012

I've been told I am very smart, but I know my strengths and weaknesses. I'm a better consummer of good research and meta analysis than a researcher. I'll stick with behavior medicine and leave the reserach in medicine and neuroscience to my colleagues with that expertise.

I know that drugs work on people most of the time. What they do and whether it is beneficial or harmful is another matter.

[kittykatluvr21]

10:06 PM on 03/11/2012

One of the first cash crops produced in the colonies along with tobacco and edible goods was mary-jane. The cannabis plant, which hemp is made from, was not banned until influences from major money-guzzling giants like newspaper giant William Randolph Hearst, whose yellow journalist tactics sought to undo the evils of "reefer madness," and the DuPont family. The usefulness of the plant could have potentially put the DuPonts out of business, and what other way to eliminate competition than to declare it outlawed.

[libwingoflibwing]

06:59 PM on 03/11/2012

This dream pill is what so many people struggling with being overweight have fantasized about: having a higher metabolism. (I know I have.)

But there may be a big draw back to raising metabolism so one can eat as much fattening foods as one can and stay slim. Dr. Joel Fuhrman, author of "Eat To Live," suggests that having a slow metabolism and needing less calories is actually a good thing, if one eats healthily, ie eats food with a high density of nutrition over calories, and thus eats less. He suggests that this means one actually ages slower. Think of a person with a fast metabolism as burning out faster.

So I don't know.

[fumes]

06:27 AM on 03/12/2012

In a recent news story "Expert Testifies Cannabis Helps Slow Aging", Dr. Robert Melamede, a University of Colorado at Colorado Springs biology professor, and former head of the UCCS biology department stated that:

You can look at the harm caused by free radicals as biological friction or biological rust and the endocannabinoid1 system minimizes the impact of that and directly acts as an antioxidant as well as modifying the biochemistry in a way that minimizes the impacts," said Melamede outside court Thursday, likening endocannabinoids to humans like oil is to cars. He said if you don't have lubrication in your car, your car breaks. In the human body, the damage comes in the form of age-related diseases.

"I'm saying what science has now shown is that marijuana and cannabinoids are effective anti-aging agents which means that they are effective in minimizing the onset and the severity of age-related illnesses which include cognitive dysfunction things like Alzheimers, cardiovascular disease, be it heart attacks, strokes, or clogged arteries," he said. (Newham, 2008)

In reference to this, it is worth noting that the world's oldest woman was a copious cannabis smoker, and attributed her great age to her use of the herb.
http://endingcannabisprohibition.yuku.com/sreply/241/t/Cannabis-and-Longevity.html

[WiscFighter]

10:31 AM on 03/12/2012

I love when more and more truth hits the surface about MJ, then the nay-sayers are rendured speachless. PLANTS NEVER HURT ANYBODY PEOPLE, unless ofcourse its poison ivy or something...

[libwingoflibwing]

09:08 PM on 03/12/2012

Too bad I can't use this life extending herb since if I did I'd lose my job. ::frown::

[Bowowow]

07:13 PM on 03/10/2012

So we should be smokin' a doob while working out on the elliptical? Okay by me.

[kittykatluvr21]

09:57 PM on 03/11/2012

Why not, and might as well Bob Marley on the iPod as you're jogging along : D

[Ibylovesme]

11:49 AM on 03/13/2012

More like smokin a doob and planning on working out on the elliptical :)

[FDR-FAN]

02:12 PM on 03/10/2012

Marijuana is also a great anti-brainwashing tool. That's why the leaders of the right wing don't like it.Makes you immune to their lies.

[WiscFighter]

10:34 AM on 03/12/2012

Theoretically, that is %100 true! To the gov't I say, "Tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies..."

[Acorn Tree]

04:11 PM on 03/15/2012

and fluoride is a great brainwashing tool thats why city water is usually fluoridated makes you less likely to rebel or question authority

[barnacle547]

11:43 AM on 03/10/2012

The diet would consist of brownies, Doritos, pizza, cookies, ice cream, and Bugles.

[theripper1967]

03:45 AM on 03/11/2012

Yeah and I doubt you would lose weight.....lol

[Acorn Tree]

04:12 PM on 03/15/2012

idk i lost a ton of weight on bacon and eggs gotta love atkins lol

[WiscFighter]

10:37 AM on 03/12/2012

And if one week you wanna shed just a little extra, switch to the Baked Doritos... Almost just as delicious, even!

[White Raven]

12:38 AM on 03/10/2012

But wait a minute...the Obama Administration said that marijuana has no medical use. How are we to reconcile this?

[WiscFighter]

10:37 AM on 03/12/2012

By voting for Ron Paul in November, thats how.

[Acorn Tree]

04:13 PM on 03/15/2012

ron paul is insane, though i like alot of his policy's he just want to cut federal spending to alot of things we use and take for granted everyday

[EntanglementTrick]

11:58 PM on 03/09/2012

what's all this?@!

nay! nay!.........Nay! It's useless! Does nothing! Nothing to see here....

[freetheleaf]

04:24 PM on 03/09/2012

of course. nobodddddy believes me until it's in huff post.

[grimcity]

02:28 PM on 03/09/2012

A spliff for breakfast, a blunt for lunch, and in the evening, a tightly packed bowl along with a hearty meal.

The Grimcity Nugs Diet™

[kittykatluvr21]

09:59 PM on 03/11/2012

I had two bowls this morning for breakfast....one was Cheerios.

[grimcity]

10:53 AM on 03/13/2012

Sounds like a proper way to start the day... some burning salad and a bowl of oats FTW!

[Jack Davies]

12:06 PM on 03/09/2012

Hasn't anyone ever wondered why so many stoners stay skinny despite always having the munches all the time?

[Acorn Tree]

04:14 PM on 03/15/2012

the longer you smoke the less intense the munchies are i mean sometimes i get them but not usually but then again i usually make edibles