The use of cannabis can cause changes in the epigenoma of the human body, implies a study of over 1000 adults. The epigenoma functions as a set of switches, activating or deactivating genes to change the way our bodies function.
“We have observed associations between cumulative use of marijuana and numerous epigenetic markers in time,” explained epidemiologist Lifang Hou from Northwestern University when the study was published in 2023.
Cannabis is a commonly used substance in the United States, with 49 percent of people trying it at least once, a Hou and a team of US researchers reported in their published book.
Some states in the United States and other countries have made cannabis legal, but we still do not fully understand its effects on our health.
Researchers have examined about 1,000 adults who have participated in a long -term previous study where they have been asked for the use of cannabis for a period of 20 years.
The study participants provided blood samples twice during this time, at 15 and 20-year points. They were between 18 and 30 years old at the beginning, or “Year 0”.
Using these blood samples for five years from each other, Hou and her team examined the epigenetic changes, in particular the levels of methylation of DNA, from people who used cannabis recently or for a long time.
The addition or removal of methyl groups of DNA is one of the most studied epigenetic modifications. Without changing the genomic sequence, it changes the activity of the genes, as it is difficult to read the cells to read the manual for the genome instruction with these molecular changes in their path.
When the epigenetic factors that can come from other genes or the environment inside a cell or after, they are recruiting a methyl group, this changes the expression of our genes. (TTSZ/Istock/Getty Images)
Environmental and lifestyle factors can cause these changes in methylation that can be transferred to future generations, and blood biomarkers can provide information on both the latter and historical exposures.
“We have previously identified associations between marijuana use and the aging process, caught by methyring DNA,” How said.
“We wanted to further explore whether the specific epigenetic factors were related to marijuana and whether these factors were related to health results.”
The comprehensive data on the use of cannabis of participants allowed them to evaluate cumulative use over time, as well as recent use and compare it to markers for methylation of DNA in their blood for analysis.
They have found numerous markers for methylation of DNA in 15-year blood samples, 22 that were associated with recent use and 31 related to cumulative cannabis use.
In the samples taken at the 20-year moment, they identified 132 markers associated with recent use and 16 related to cumulative use.
“The interesting thing is that we consistently identified a marker that was previously related to the use of tobacco,” How explained, “suggesting a potential shared epigenetic regulation between tobacco and marijuana use.”
Numerous epigenetic changes associated with the use of cannabis have previously been associated with things such as cell proliferation, hormonal signaling, infections, neurological disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and disorders of substances.
It is important to note that this study does not prove that cannabis directly causes these changes or causes health problems.
“This study gave a new idea of the connection between the use of marijuana and epigenetic factors,” says epidemiologist Drew Nanini of Northwestern University.
“Additional studies are needed to determine whether these associations are observed sequentially in various populations. In addition, studies examining the effect of marijuana on age-related results can give a further view of the long-term effect of marijuana on health.”
The study has been published in Molecular psychiatryS
A larger version of this article was published in July 2023.