In Gut Microbes, researchers uncovered that physical exercise may increase the human body’s own cannabis-like substances.
The research was led by Ana Valdes of the University of Nottingham and included at least 79 participants who were said to have arthritis.
“The endocannabinoid (EC) system has pleiotropic functions in the body. It plays a key role in energy homeostasis and the development of metabolic disorders being a mediator in the relationship between the gut microbiota and host metabolism,” the study says.
“In the current study we explore the functional interactions between the endocannabinoid system and the gut microbiome in modulating inflammatory markers. Using data from a 6 week exercise intervention and a cross sectional validation cohort,), we measured the associations of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), anandamide (AEA), N-oleoylethanolamine (OEA) and N-palmitoylethanolamine (PEA) with gut microbiome composition, gut derived metabolites (SCFAs) and inflammatory markers both cross-sectionally and longitudinally.”
About 38 participants initiated physical exercise each day for a span of six weeks, while 40 refrained from any exercises.
According to the findings: “Our data show that the anti-inflammatory effects of SCFAs are partly mediated by the EC system suggesting that there may be other pathways involved in the modulation of the immune system via the gut microbiome.”
