BOULDER, CO — Cannabis consumption is associated with a reduction in the presence of alcohol-induced inflammatory molecules (cytokines), according to clinical data published online ahead of print in the journal Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research.
The excessive production of inflammatory cytokines has been linked to the development of various diseases, including heart disease and cancer.
Investigators at the University of Colorado at Boulder assessed the relationship between self-reported cannabis use and circulating levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in 66 subjects who regularly drank alcohol.
They reported that cannabis use was negatively associated with the presence of specific cytokines in the blood.
“Cannabinoid compounds may serve to mitigate inflammation associated with alcohol use,” authors concluded.
Full text of the study, “Investigating the relationships between alcohol consumption, cannabis use and circulating cytokines: A preliminary analysis,” appears in Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research.
