Saliva and Plasma Endocannabinoids Concentrations According to Feeding Status and Body Mass Index
Saliva and Plasma Endocannabinoids Concentrations According to Feeding Status and Body Mass Index
Up till now, the evaluation of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in humans needs invasive procedures. The investigators managed in the lab to determine the levels of endocannabinoids in a small number of subjects. The aim of the study is to confirm that salivary is a useful tool to evaluate the activity of the ECS both in normal weight and obese subjects that are characterised by a hyperactivity of the system. Therefore, the first objective of the study is to compare the fasting level of salivary anandamide between 12 obese patients and 12 normal weight subjects.
The prevalence of obesity keeps increasing in industrialized countries. However, efficient treatments of this chronic disease are still lacking. A better understanding of the systems that regulate energy balance and eating behavior is mandatory to better understand the disease and find appropriate treatments. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) which comprises cannabinoid receptors, such as CB1 and CB2, endogenous ligands (named endocannabinoids) and specific biosynthetic and degradative pathways is a key system in the regulation of energy balance and obesity. Obesity is characterised by an hyperactivity of the system both in animal and humans. Moreover, the activity of the ECS is influenced by feeding status although only one study has only been performed in humans. The investigation of the ECS in humans needs invasive procedure (blood sampling or adipose or liver biopsy). The aim of our study is to evaluate a new tool for the ECS evaluation in humans i e the determinations of saliva concentration of endocannabinoids both in normal weight and obese subjects before and after food intake. Blood and saliva sampling will be performed after an overnight fast, one hour before, just before and one hour after a lunch in12 normal weight subjects and 12 obese characterised with anthropometric (Weight, height, BMI (Body Mass Index), waist circumference, blood pressure) and metabolic (glycaemia, insulin, lipid profile, liver profile) evaluations. The endocannabinoids concentrations will be measured with mass spectrometry in blood and saliva and gut hormones (PYY (peptide YY) and ghrelin) will be measured in plasma.
Inclusion Criteria:
Obese patients :
Normal weight subjects :
Exclusion Criteria: