Protective effect of cannabis on hepatic steatosis

Authors

  • Néstor Israel Quinapanta Castro
  • Andrés Francisco Orbea Fernández

Keywords:

Fatty Liver, Cannabinoids, Cannabis, Hepatic Steatosis, PRISMA 2020.

Abstract

Hepatic steatosis is distinguished by the excessive accumulation of triglycerides within hepatocytes, with these hepatocytes containing more than 4-5 % triglycerides. It has become a frequent finding in clinical practice, with a prevalence of 20 to 30 % in Western countries, making it the most prevalent liver disease. The aim of the study was to analyze whether the consumption of cannabinoids is associated with a reduced risk of developing Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). A systematic search of clinical trials from 2008 to 2023 was conducted using the meta-search engines PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, following the PRISMA 2020 methodology. Eight studies were included after meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The total number of individuals included in the present study was 6,162,716, all over 18 years of age. Two cross-sectional studies, one retrospective study, and several prospective studies suggest that cannabis consumption might have a protective effect on hepatic steatosis. The largest prospective longitudinal analysis concluded that no significant causal effect was observed. It is concluded that most studies favoring cannabis are cross-sectional or retrospective studies. The results are contradictory; however, more prospective studies are needed to evaluate the causal association between cannabis consumption and its protective effect on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

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Published

2024-12-14

How to Cite

1.
Quinapanta Castro NI, Orbea Fernández AF. Protective effect of cannabis on hepatic steatosis. Rev Cubana Inv Bioméd [Internet]. 2024 Dec. 14 [cited 2025 Dec. 7];43. Available from: https://revibiomedica.sld.cu/index.php/ibi/article/view/3562