Study finds cannabis-like substances released after exercise

For the study, a research team from the University of Nottingham School of Medicine in the UK recruited 78 people with arthritis of the knee.

Thirty-eight participants performed 15 minutes of muscle-building exercises each day for 6 weeks, while the remaining 40 did nothing.

The researchers found that those who exercised not only reduced their pain, but also had more than one type of microbe in their intestines that produced anti-inflammatory drugs.

Participants also had lower cytokine levels (an indicator of inflammation) and higher endocannabinoid levels.

According to the researchers, at least a third of the anti-inflammatory effect of the gut microbiome was due to the increase in endocannabinoids.

“Endocannabinoids are natural neurotransmitters that are produced in the body,” explained Peter C. Lascarides, DO, attending physician in pain management at the Northern Westchester Hospital of Northwell Health in Mount Kisco, New York.

He added that these substances are “linked” to various functions and influence things like mood, energy, memory, appetite and pain levels.

Amrita Vijay, PhD, a researcher at the University of Nottingham School of Medicine and the first author of the article, admitted she was surprised by the results.

“The findings are new because we may have found a key link between how substances produced by gut microbes interact with substances produced by our own bodies, which tells us how exercise reduces inflammation.” she told Healthline in an emailed statement.

According to Vijay, the results of this study highlight that lifestyle interventions like exercise can influence endocannabinoid production.

“This is a timely discovery, particularly at a time of growing interest in the use of cannabidiol and other related supplements to reduce levels of inflammation,” a- she declared.

Examining how to reduce inflammation in the body can be essential for improving several health systems.

Lascarides noted that inflammation is a natural part of the body’s defense mechanism. But when inflammation becomes chronic, it can lead to disease and disability.

“The effects of chronic inflammation can lead to conditions such as fatigue, pain, mood disturbances, as well as disturbances to the gastrointestinal and immune systems,” he said.

According to Ivanina, the microbiome plays an essential role in the formation and development of the main components of our innate and adaptive immune system.

“Additionally, the microbiome can make certain vitamins and amino acids, including B vitamins and vitamin K,” she explained.

However, it is a delicate system. What we put in our body can easily disturb it.

“Antibiotics are very disruptive to the microbiome and its function,” said Ivanina. “Plus, alcohol, smoking, stress, not sleeping, not exercising, and lack of fiber and prebiotics in the diet all disrupt the microbiome.”

“Regular aerobic exercise can lead to improved pain perception, especially in chronic pain states,” Lascarides said. “It is believed to be caused by the release of neurotransmitters called endorphins during exercise.”

As beneficial as exercise can be for people with chronic pain, he warned that a doctor should approve any new exercise program, “especially after recent injury or as part of cardiovascular disease.”

Ivanina agreed, adding that exercising with certain types of pain can be dangerous.

“Therefore, her individual situation should be discussed with a doctor,” she said.

New research shows that exercise can stimulate germs in our gut that produce pain and inflammation relieving substances called endocannabinoids.

Experts say that when inflammation becomes chronic, it can lead to many serious health problems.

They also say that while exercise can be beneficial to the body in many ways, it’s important to speak with your doctor before starting an exercise program, especially after a recent injury or if you are suffering from a medical condition. heart disease.