Cannabis (THC) Aggravates the Deleterious Effects of Alcohol (EtOH) on Skeletal Muscles’ Mitochondrial Respiration: Modulation by Age and Metabolic Phenotypes
2024

Cannabis and Alcohol Harm Skeletal Muscles

Sample size: 7 publication 10 minutes Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Charles Anne-Laure, Giannini Margherita, Meyer Alain, Charloux Anne, Talha Samy, Vogel Thomas, Raul Jean-Sébastien, Wolff Valérie, Geny Bernard

Primary Institution: University of Strasbourg

Hypothesis

Does ethanol (EtOH), alone and with THC, impair skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiration, and how are these effects modulated by age and metabolic phenotype?

Conclusion

Ethanol alone and in combination with THC significantly impairs skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiration, with young glycolytic muscles being more affected.

Supporting Evidence

  • Ethanol impaired mitochondrial respiration in both young and middle-aged muscles.
  • THC aggravated the mitochondrial impairment caused by ethanol in young muscles.
  • The soleus muscle was less affected by THC and ethanol than the gastrocnemius muscle.
  • Age and metabolic phenotype influenced the severity of mitochondrial impairment.

Takeaway

Using cannabis and alcohol together can hurt your muscles more than using either one alone, especially if you're young.

Methodology

The study involved young and middle-aged rats, measuring mitochondrial respiration in skeletal muscles after exposure to THC and EtOH.

Potential Biases

Potential bias in the interpretation of results due to the specific age and metabolic phenotype of the rats used.

Limitations

The study was conducted on rats, which may not fully represent human responses.

Participant Demographics

Young (12 weeks) and middle-aged (49 weeks) male Wistar rats.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.001

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.3390/biology13121080

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