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Marijuana use in early adulthood may increase prediabetes risk in middle age
Young adults who self-reported smoking marijuana had a greater risk for developing prediabetes by middle adulthood when compared with adults who reported never smoking marijuana, according to research in Diabetologia.
In cross-sectional and prospective studies analyzing the metabolic health of adults who self-reported the frequency and quantity of cannabis use, researchers were unable to associate smoking marijuana with an increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
“Marijuana use, by status or lifetime frequency, was not associated with incidence or presence of diabetes after adjustment for potential confounding factors,” the researchers said in a press release. “However, marijuana use was associated with the development and prevalence of prediabetes after adjustment. Specifically, occurrence of prediabetes in middle adulthood was significantly elevated for individuals who reported using marijuana in excess of 100 times by young adulthood.”
Michael P. Bancks, a PhD student at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, and colleagues analyzed data from 3,034 adults who self-reported marijuana use for the ongoing CARDIA study at year 25 (2010-2011), as well as data from 3,151 adults who self-reported marijuana use and did not have prediabetes or diabetes at study year 7 (1992-1993) and who returned for at least one of the four subsequent follow-up examinations over 18 years. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire on previous and current illegal drug use at each follow-up examination; participants who reported using an illegal drug also reported the number of days of use in the previous 30 days and reported lifetime use (1-2 times, 3-9 times, 10-99 times or more than 100 times).
Adults at study year 25 who reported current marijuana use had higher odds of developing prediabetes, with the risk persisting after adjustment for age, sex and race (OR = 1.65; 95% CI, 1.15-2.38). The risk was slightly lower for adults who reported a lifetime marijuana use of 100 times or more (OR = 1.49; 95% CI, 1.06-2.11) when compared with adults who reported never using marijuana. Researchers found no link between marijuana use and type 2 diabetes.
“In unadjusted analysis, a decreased risk of diabetes was found for those who reported marijuana use compared with never-users, but this did not attain statistical significance,” the researchers wrote. “The associations were attenuated after adjustment for basic demographic and lifestyle characteristics; further adjustment for dietary pattern and [blood pressure] resulted in the greatest attenuation of estimates.”
During 18 years of follow-up, researchers also found a greater risk for prediabetes for participants who reported using marijuana 100 or more times in their lifetime compared with those who reported never using marijuana (HR = 1.39; 95% CI, 1.13-1.71). BMI and waist circumference did not affect the association, according to researchers.
“These results contrast with those previously reported on marijuana use and metabolic health,” the researchers wrote. “Future studies should look to objectively measure mode and quantity of marijuana use in relation to prospective metabolic health.” – by Regina Schaffer
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.