Health/Medical
See other Health/Medical Articles
Title: Can an Illegal Drug Help Your Liver?
Source:
Lew Rockwell
URL Source: https://www.lewrockwell.com/2017/09 ... r/can-illegal-drug-help-liver/
Published: Sep 13, 2017
Author: Bel Marra Health
Post Date: 2017-09-13 08:25:29 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 4353
Comments: 39
Cases of fatty liver disease are on the rise as people’s waistlines continue to grow. As fat permeates the liver, the organ becomes unable to function properly. Over time, fatty liver disease can worsen into fibrosis or, ultimately, liver cancer or cirrhosis.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects nearly one in three Americans. NAFLD can be caused by high sugar levels (hyperglycemia), high levels of fat (triglycerides) particularly in the blood, obesity, or diabetes.
However, the rate of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease seems to be lower among cannabis users.
Cannabis use may lower risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School are the first to examine the link between cannabis use and the rates of NAFLD.
The researchers examined medical records of 5.8 million patients from 3,000 hospitals. Their aim was to determine whether or not cannabis use affected a person’s risk of developing NAFLD.
The researchers did find a correlation between the use of cannabis and lower risk for the liver disease. The link was strongest among heavy users.
The researchers explained, “[The study] revealed that cannabis users showed significantly lower NAFLD prevalence compared to non-users.”
The reduction seen among cannabis users broke down like this: occasional users had a 15 percent lower risk and regular users had a 52 percent lower risk of developing NAFLD, compared to those who did not use the controversial herb.
The study did have some limitations. For example, people aren’t always openly inclined to discuss their cannabis use with medical professionals. Furthermore, there was no specific information collected about the type of marijuana used or its concentration or mode of delivery.
Regardless, researchers still wish to pursue further research on a molecular level to determine what it is about cannabis that reduces the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Treatment for NAFLD
Losing weight is a current treatment method for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, with a recommendation of at least a 10 percent reduction in weight. NAFLD sufferers also need to be vaccinated for hepatitis, as their risk of developing it is higher. If NAFLD has progressed to fibrosis, cirrhosis, or liver cancer, then a liver transplant is likely required.
Some studies have suggested that consuming coffee helps support a healthy liver, as it could slow down damage.
There is currently no FDA-approved medication for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, but there are a few drugs being tested.
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: misterwhite, Deckard (#0)
However, the rate of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease seems to be lower among cannabis users.
Rejoice! LOL
I know you're totally surprised that Deckard has found yet another article where ganja turns out to be the miracle drug of all time.
#2. To: Tooconservative (#1)
Losing weight is a current treatment method for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease,
But if marijuana increases appetite, isn't this at odds with the current treatment method?
#3. To: misterwhite (#2) (Edited)
But if marijuana increases appetite, isn't this at odds with the current treatment method?
Yeah, I thought of that too.
Perhaps we just don't understand The Magic Of Marijuana.
We'd better keep reading Deckard's articles so we can learn more.
#4. To: Tooconservative, misterwhite (#3)
Yeah - what do the researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School know anyways?
All a bunch of potheads - just ask whitey.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Those who most loudly denounce Fake News are typically those most aggressively disseminating it.
#5. To: Deckard (#0)
The two best things you can do for your liver have nothing to do with cannabis.
They are (1) Eat eggs. Choline is the substance that helps clear the liver of fat. Eggs (chicken, duck, goose, quail, fish caviar...) have more choline than any other food, and they taste great.
(3) Drink coffee. Coffee is very good for the liver, kidneys and pancreas. It is THE number one source of antioxidants in the human diet, and it's like a tonic for the liver.
With eggs and coffee so available in the world, so cheap, and so good for your liver, there's no need to dabble with the Dark Side to have good liver health.
#6. To: Deckard, Tooconservative, misterwhite (#0)
Can an Illegal Drug Help Your Liver?
Getting stoned on pot is a recognized remedy for any ailment known to man. It is said to work equally as well as snake oil and also give a euphoric effect.
There is currently no FDA-approved medication for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Yes, alas, pot is still illegal. The Federal government denied a request to change it from Schedule I as follows:
The statutory mandate of Title 21 United States Code, Section 812(b) (21 U.S.C. 812(b)) is dispositive. Congress established only one schedule, Schedule I, for drugs of abuse with "no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States" and "lack of accepted safety for use . . . under medical supervision." 21 U.S.C. 812(b).
It is all a fiendish Federal government plot to deny the universal cure to needy people who seek its use for medicinal purposes only. But the law is the law.
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0176416
AbstractCannabis use is associated with reduced prevalence of obesity and diabetes mellitus (DM) in humans and mouse disease models. Obesity and DM are a well-established independent risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most prevalent liver disease globally. The effects of cannabis use on NAFLD prevalence in humans remains ill-defined. Our objective is to determine the relationship between cannabis use and the prevalence of NAFLD in humans. We conducted a population-based case-control study of 5,950,391 patients using the 2014 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Nationwide Inpatient Survey (NIS) discharge records of patients 18 years and older. After identifying patients with NAFLD (1% of all patients), we next identified three exposure groups: non-cannabis users (98.04%), non-dependent cannabis users (1.74%), and dependent cannabis users (0.22%). We adjusted for potential demographics and patient related confounders and used multivariate logistic regression (SAS 9.4) to determine the odds of developing NAFLD with respects to cannabis use. Our findings revealed that cannabis users (dependent and non-dependent) showed significantly lower NAFLD prevalence compared to non-users (AOR: 0.82[0.76–0.88]; p<0.0001). The prevalence of NAFLD was 15% lower in non-dependent users (AOR: 0.85[0.79–0.92]; p<0.0001) and 52% lower in dependent users (AOR: 0.49[0.36–0.65]; p<0.0001). Among cannabis users, dependent patients had 43% significantly lower prevalence of NAFLD compared to non-dependent patients (AOR: 0.57[0.42–0.77]; p<0.0001). Our observations suggest that cannabis use is associated with lower prevalence of NAFLD in patients. These novel findings suggest additional molecular mechanistic studies to explore the potential role of cannabis use in NAFLD development.
Citation: Adejumo AC, Alliu S, Ajayi TO, Adejumo KL, Adegbala OM, Onyeakusi NE, et al. (2017) Cannabis use is associated with reduced prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A cross-sectional study. PLoS ONE 12(4): e0176416. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0176416
Editor: Pavel Strnad, Medizinische Fakultat der RWTH Aachen, GERMANY
Received: February 9, 2017; Accepted: April 9, 2017; Published: April 25, 2017
Copyright: © 2017 Adejumo et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Data Availability: The relevant data can be accessed at the following link: https://www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/nisoverview.jsp.
Funding: This work was funded by a start-up grant to BTN by INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, Institut National de la Reserche Scientifique, 531 Boulevard des Prairies, Laval (Quebec) H7V 1B7 Canada. The funder had no role in the project design, execution, data interpretation or decision to publish.
Competing interests: The authors declare that they do not have any competing interests.
Introduction
Cannabis is the most abused substance which is still illicit in most countries globally [1]. Besides alcohol and tobacco, it is the most widely used drug for recreational purposes [2]. It is currently estimated that between 119–224 million people worldwide [1], and over 22 million individuals in the United States of America (USA), aged 12 years and above use cannabis [2]. With the recent rise in cannabis legalization across different states in the USA, this number is expected to grow even further. While cannabis use (CU) is associated with increased prevalence of disorders such as schizophrenia [3], cyclical hyperemesis syndrome [4], and pulmonary diseases [5], it has also been linked to a reduction in obesity [6] and diabetes mellitus (DM) [7–9]. The prevalence of these disorders is expected to be impacted as CU increases over the coming years.
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a metabolic disorder characterized by excess fat accumulation in the liver and is the most common liver disease in the world [10]. About one-third of US adults have been diagnosed with NAFLD [11,12]. While excessive fat accumulation in the liver has previously been thought to be harmless, studies including ours, have demonstrated that NAFLD can progress to steatohepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis and even hepatocellular carcinoma [13,14]. By 2020, it is estimated that progressive NAFLD would become the leading cause of advance liver disease requiring liver transplantation in patients [15]. Obesity and DM are among the known risk factors for NAFLD [16]. Since CU has been associated with reduced prevalence of both obesity [6] and DM [7–9], we surmised that CU might also have modulatory effects on the prevalence of NAFLD.
Our study was aimed at testing the hypothesis that CU is associated with reduced prevalence of NAFLD given its suppressive effect against obesity and diabetes in humans. Our novel studies revealed that CU was associated with reduced prevalence of NAFLD in patients. However, co-commitment NDCU and dependent abusive alcohol consumption, which can independently induce progressive fatty liver disease, negated the reduced prevalence of NAFLD observed in cannabis-only users.
[snip]
Cannabis may possibly help your liver, but has definitely been associated with increased prevalence of disorders such as schizophrenia, cyclical hyperemesis syndrome, and pulmonary diseases. The cost of a possibly enhanced liver may be growing additional personalities, cyclical puking attacks, and difficulty or stopping breathing.
#7. To: Deckard (#0)
Can an Illegal Drug Help Your Liver?
Uhhhh,yeah. ALL drugs have been illegal drugs before being approved for at least the last 50 years.
Very poorly crafted headline.
In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
#8. To: Vicomte13 (#5)
With eggs and coffee so available in the world, so cheap, and so good for your liver, there's no need to dabble with the Dark Side to have good liver health.
You forgot Scrapple. THAT must surely also be a breakfast health food in the Vicomte household. (Do your maids hand-feed you or do you sully up your royal, antiseptic hands lifting those greasy forks and saucers?)
#9. To: nolu chan (#6)
Say WHAAAA...??
#10. To: Liberator (#9)
misterwhite makes Cheech cry. Or is that Chong, I can't recall.
#11. To: Liberator (#8)
You forgot Scrapple. THAT must surely also be a breakfast health food in the Vicomte household. (Do your maids hand-feed you or do you sully up your royal, antiseptic hands lifting those greasy forks and saucers?)
I don't keep maids. They present far too great a temptation.
My wife operates the espresso machine and toasts the croissants.
I cook the eggs myself - the trick is to put turmeric and pepper into the eggs and not beat them too hard, wait until the melted butter in the pan is foamy, pour in the eggs smoothly, and then trace slow figure-8s through them with a fork. This produces the best results.
Scrapple, Spam and S.O.S. are not really good at all. Biscuits and gravy are good, to be had whilst traveling at the Cracker Barrel, but they're not as healthy for you as the eggs are.
Antispesis is not a goal in life. When things are too clean the immune system is weakened Horses shit and sweat, and you sweat, and the outdoors are generally dirty, dusty, buggy places - and the outside of a horse is good for the insides of a man (or a woman).
It is well to have the leisure time and money to be able to spend it outside getting chafed, cut, bruised and dirty - or sunburnt and salty under the sails at sea - and not to feel one's life ebbing away rooted to the desk where one must work. There has been rather more of the latter than the former in my life, but - to quote the Elves - "We still remember, we who dwell, in this far land beneath the trees, Thy starlight on the Western Seas."
"The more the dirt, the less the hurt."
#12. To: Vicomte13 (#11)
I don't keep maids. They present far too great a temptation.My wife operates the espresso machine and toasts the croissants.
This is one of my all-time favorite posts of yours...Funny stuff.
Do you find the wife's curlers and pink fluffy slippers a distraction at breakfast?
Q: Isn't the acid in coffee bad for the system and stomach/gall bladder in general?
Antispesis is not a goal in life. When things are too clean the immune system is weakened Horses shit and sweat, and you sweat, and the outdoors are generally dirty, dusty, buggy places - and the outside of a horse is good for the insides of a man (or a woman).
In this respect you're absolutely right on this count.
#13. To: Tooconservative, misterwhite (#10)
misterwhite makes Cheech cry. Or is that Chong, I can't recall.
I'm disappointed that you don't know who is who. CHEECH, MAN!!!
Best Cheech and Chong scene ever: (yes, even MW and you will appreciate it)
'CHEECH AND CHONG- MEXICAN AMERICANS' anthem:
#14. To: Liberator (#13)
Did you like the movie, Dumb and Dumber?
#15. To: misterwhite (#14)
LOVED IT!!
Q: Do you like the Three Stooges?
#16. To: Liberator (#13)
I'm disappointed that you don't know who is who. CHEECH, MAN!!!
Easy or I'll have an acid flashback.
Speaking of which, I should get around to posting something about all the tycoons and tech honchos in Silicon Valley that swear by microdosing themselves with LSD so they can think outside the box. Steve Jobs was big on it. Not so much on bathing or taking responsibility for his kid though.
#17. To: Tooconservative, misterwhite (#16)
Not that I'm big on Cheech and Chong (yes, Cheech is the "Mexican-American"), but this single flick was hilariously so outside the "humor box" that even MOM though this bit very funny.
Speaking of which, I should get around to posting something about all the tycoons and tech honchos in Silicon Valley that swear by microdosing themselves with LSD so they can think outside the box. Steve Jobs was big on it. Not so much on bathing or taking responsibility for his kid though.
Nice dig at Jobs -- who as we know is worshiped by God-less techie freaks. Had no idea that personal hygiene and caring for his kids weren't life priorities. Did you watch the movie?
The micro-dosing of LSD. Interesting concept. I suppose it is possible that just a bit helps access creative centers within the brain. Dunno what the short/long term repercussions might be...
#18. To: Liberator (#17)
Nice dig at Jobs -- who as we know is worshiped by God-less techie freaks. Had no idea that personal hygiene and caring for his kids weren't life priorities. Did you watch the movie?
Which one? They made two. I have one on my Plex, the Fassbinder one, haven't watched it yet.
Yep, LSD is very very big with the tech tycoons and wannabes.
#19. To: Tooconservative (#18) (Edited)
'JOBS' I reckon was the definitive bio (I assume.)
Had NO idea LSD was a known "creative" catalyst in techie/tycoon/mover-shaker wannabe circles. The more I learn about our society, the less I respect it and its narcissists.
America as a nation whose establishment and institutions discount honor, honesty, virtue, and God will not last much longer.
#20. To: misterwhite (#14)
Are you gonna tell me THIS isn't funny??:
#21. To: Liberator (#12)
Do you find the wife's curlers and pink fluffy slippers a distraction at breakfast?
One alleviates distractions before going down to breakfast.
#22. To: Vicomte13, Liberator (#11)
I cook the eggs myself - the trick is to put turmeric and pepper into the eggs and not beat them too hard, wait until the melted butter in the pan is foamy, pour in the eggs smoothly, and then trace slow figure-8s through them with a fork. This produces the best results.
Waaaa? No fines herbs?
#23. To: Liberator (#13)
'CHEECH AND CHONG- MEXICAN AMERICANS' anthem:
If they produced that today, there'd be rioting on campuses. The SJWs would be totally triggered.
#24. To: nolu chan (#22) (Edited)
In scrambled eggs? One can. The turmeric/pepper blend is nice, and it heightens the yellow color of the eggs, making them look eggier. Sometimes a pinch of dukes adds iodine and salt without being overwhelming. Breakfast is to be hearty, not frou-from.
#25. To: Vicomte13 (#24)
In scrambled eggs?
I was thinking of an omelet, or scrambled eggs. I've only tried turmeric in Spanish Paella, a yellow rice dish, where it is sometimes used as a substitute for the expensive saffron.
#26. To: nolu chan (#25)
You've also had turmeric in Indian food. It's a component of "curry powder".
#27. To: Vicomte13 (#21)
One alleviates distractions before going down to breakfast.
I get you, Vic. That scares me ;-)
#28. To: nolu chan, Vicomte13 (#25)
I was thinking of an omelet, or scrambled eggs. I've only tried turmeric in Spanish Paella, a yellow rice dish, where it is sometimes used as a substitute for the expensive saffron.
Saffron is about $8 per little plastic square here. Try the saffron in eggs....really exotic.
Add that to tuna fish salad, clam chowder, shrimp (it's flavor IS like shrimp), cream sauces. Just a tad; It's heap powerful.
#29. To: Liberator (#28)
Yes. We have saffron in our paella. We really dust the meal with the stuff because it is such a great flavor enhancer - it's MSG for civilized people.
#30. To: Liberator (#27)
I get you, Vic. That scares me ;-)
If you want to be scared more, go over to the active Korea missile thread and you'll get a nice little "Here's how we conquer the world - loss of a city or two? - it's only a flesh wound" speech.
#31. To: Vicomte13 (#29)
We have saffron in our paella...it's MSG for civilized people.
Good characterization. Ha! Paella...pasta...chicken -- yup, amazing spice.
#32. To: Vicomte13 (#30)
I'll check it out...
#33. To: Liberator (#31) (Edited)
Now if I could just find a way to make canned salmon taste like something other than the discharge of the Devil's anus, I would truly be happy.
For Vitamin D, you have to eat salmon. There's no other source. Salmon gets pricey, and isn't portable except in a can. Canned salmon from the Pacific is wild - it's healthy. But that smell and that taste are... ... ... unrewarding.
Canned sardines are pretty good. Canned oysters can be fun. Canned tuna isn't gross. But canned salmon is just...not good. I've never found a way to make it seem anything other than a can of wet, dead, decaying fish.
#34. To: Vicomte13 (#33)
Now if I could just find a way to make canned salmon taste like something other than the discharge of the Devil's anus, I would truly be happy......Canned sardines are pretty good. Canned oysters can be fun. Canned tuna isn't gross. But canned salmon is just...not good. I've never found a way to make it seem anything other than a can of wet, dead, decaying fish.
Are you saying Saffron wouldn't help ? ;-)
Salmon can't be decaying any more than canned Solid White tuna, can it?
I don't think there's any helping salmon either (although I find smoked tolerable on a cracker.) Don't get the trendy buzz over it. Fresh must be a total different thang.
D3 in cap form -- NOT effective??
Canned sardines?? Oysters? Ugh. Canned tuna solid white is easily transformed into a pleasant salad. Old Bay, saffron, celery seed, dill seed, pepper, red onion, lemon juice, mayo. Maybe that combo could help canned Salmon.
#35. To: Liberator (#34)
Saffron will definitely not help salmon.
Saffron works particularly well with starch that has a bit of butter or oil on it.
Salmon, though, is a big brick of heavy, very wet and oily protein. It has a strong - overpowering - smell. Saffron is simply wasted on it. Also, you don't WANT flavor ENHANCEMENT with canned salmon. It's already got a taste strong enough to gag a maggot. No, you want smell and taste SUPPRESSION.
Salmon that is not out of a can is best raw, though "salmon candy" style smoked salmon is very good, and fresh salmon lightly flip flopped in butter, oil, lemon and dill weed is quite good. Put the same ingredients on a slug of wet canned salmon sitting there, and what you end up with is wet, dead, oily fish with a faint aroma of abused lemon and bitter lawn clippings.
#36. To: Liberator (#34)
I don't do vitamin pills. They make my pee smell.
#37. To: Vicomte13 (#36)
Especially Vitamin Bs....
VERY effective:
Source Natural's Coenzymated B-Complex. Sublingual.
Best of all worlds; Easily assimilated, effective, minimal wasted. Can be taken throughout the day:
https://www.iherb.com/pr/source-naturals-coenzymate-b-complex-orange-flavored-sublingual-60-tablets/1048
#38. To: Vicomte13 (#35)
Agree...canned salmon isn't worth doctoring up with expensive salmon.
Yeah, that smoked salmon actually tasted quite good on a cracker (at Costco's sample booth.) So good hat I bought some...but years ago.
#39. To: Liberator (#38) (Edited)
I eat a lot of salmon, mostly the eggs that I get shipped to me from Alaska.
But that's pricey. I've tried to develop an ideal daily regime for the common man, and I can very nearly do it: eggs and toast, spinach, potatoes and carrots, buttermilk, a grapefruit. A touch of seaweed for Iodine. Two canned oysters for zinc. This can all be done frugally - less than $10 a day if one does not buy organic spinach or other products (over $15 a day if one does insist on organic), and it all tastes good with standard spices and perhaps a tablespoon of butter and a tablespoon of olive oil - and all under 2000 calories. But there are two lacunae: Vitamin D and DHA.
The best way to fill it nutritionally is the way I generally do it: with 2 ounces of salmon caviar. That nearly doubles the price of the meal and puts it out of the reach of the common man.
Canned salmon will do the trick nutritionally for only about $3 a can. But it's grim stuff. The unemployed common man can take off his shirt and expose himself to the sun for 20 minutes midday each day from spring through autumn at least, and thereby store up Vitamin D. Or he can purchase Paris mushrooms (the white button kind), slice them and sun dry them. Paris mushrooms are the cheapest generally available, and also the most mild tasting (they were the first, and for over a century the only, mushroom domesticated). A handful of sun-dried Paris mushrooms is a day's worth of Vitamin D-2. But again, this imposes time and labor constraints that some cannot do. Others - urban apartment dwellers - have nowhere to expose the mushrooms to direct sunlight.
Salmon is simple and efficient and good for you...but the canned sockeye is unrewarding.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]