Bulimia
Category
Behavioral, Psychiatric
REVIEWED BY
Our Biomedical Scientist
Reviewed based on
Literature Discussion
Last update
July 2020
What is Bulimia
Bulimia nervosa (commonly referred to just as bulimia) is a mental eating disorder. It involves a cycle of binge-eating followed by excessive weight control methods such as purging, meaning that people will try to get rid of their calories in an unhealthy way. Bulimia causes a distorted and negative body image that can interfere with most aspects of life.1
Symptoms
The majority of people who suffer from bulimia have a normal weight or slightly overweight, therefore, the signs and symptoms of bulimia may be difficult to detect.1
However, the main symptoms may be:
- Refusion of eating in public or among others
- Persistent worrying or complaining of becoming/being overweight
- Strict dieting or repeatedly eating unusually large meals
- The strong correlation between eating and frequent/long use of the bathroom, possibly caused by forced vomiting or the use of laxatives
- Extensive exercising
- Swelling in the face, hands, and feet
- Unusually many sores, scars, or calluses on the hands or knuckles
- Damaged teeth and gums
Cause
Up to this date, the exact cause of bulimia is not yet known. However, factors that may play a role in the development of the eating disorder are:1
- Close family history of eating disorders
- Being overweight as a child or teen
- Phycological and emotional problems e.g. depression, anxiety, a traumatic event, low self-esteem, or stress
- Dieting
The connection between Cannabinoids & Bulimia
Studies find that CBD and THC may have great therapeutic potential and may be used to help treat Bulimia. CBD and THC are well-known cannabinoids, however, they do not have the same psychoactive effects. THC is psychoactive while CBD does not possess psychoactive effects. According to WHO guidelines, the cannabidiol CBD is generally well tolerated with a good safety profile.
It is known that eating behavior can strongly be affected by cannabinoids and endocannabinoids. THC can stimulate appetite and THCV can inhibit it. However, more studies are needed to examine how cannabinoids can be used to fight bulimia.2
The literature discussion is an overview of the published results from scientific studies investigating if and how cannabinoids can be beneficial in the treatment of Bulimia. The overview will be updated regularly to ensure the newest and most accurate information.
Bulimia patients express elevated CB1 levels
Patients with anorexia have elevated levels of CB1 receptors in brains. Similarly, bulimia patients were also shown to have elevated levels of CB1 receptors in some brain regions.3
Mutations in CB1 and FAAH may be connected to bulimia
It was demonstrated that mutations in CB1 and FAAH are connected to anorexia and bulimia.4
Food intake and weight gain may be linked to endogenous activators
The pancreas and tissues of the gastrointestinal tract express G protein-coupled receptor 119. GPR119 plays a role in food intake and glucose homeostasis (maintaining blood glucose level at a normal limit). GPR119 can interact with endocannabinoids such as anandamide, 2OG, PEA , and OEA .5
Out of endogenous activators, it was shown that the endocannabinoid OEA exhibits the strongest effect on GPR119 and reduces food intake and weight gain via PPARa ‘] PPARa [/simple_tooltip] and TRPV1.5
Clinical trials are research studies that examine new treatments and evaluate their effects on human health outcomes.
Today, we are not able to provide any clinical trials about cannabinoids and Bulimia
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bulimia/symptoms-causes/syc-20353615
- https://ghmedical.com/endocannabinoid-system/diseases/bulimia
- Gérard et al., (2011). ” Brain type 1 cannabinoidreceptor availability in patients with anorexia and bulimia nervosa. Biol. Psychiatry 70, 777–784”. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21718968/
- Monteleone et al., (2009). ” Association of CNR1 and FAAH endocannabinoid gene polymorphisms with anorexia nervosa and bulimianervosa: evidence for synergistic effects. Genes Brain Behav. 8, 728–732”. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19659925/
- Overton et al., (2006). ” Deorphanization of a G protein-coupled receptor for oleoylethanolamide and its use in the discovery of small-molecule hypophagic agents. Cell Metab. 3, 167–175”. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16517404/
CANNABINOIDS & RECEPTORS
Below you find the plant cannabinoids, cannabinoid receptors, and endocannabinoids that are associated with the potential therapy.
If you have any further information relevant to the connection between Bulimia and cannabinoids or find any of the information inaccurate, outdated or incomplete please contact us here.
