Endocannabinoid tone is higher in healthy lean South Asian than white Caucasian men.

ABSTRACT: South Asians have a higher risk to develop obesity and related disorders compared to white Caucasians. This is likely in part due to their lower resting energy expenditure (REE) as related with less energy-combusting brown adipose tissue (BAT). Since overactivation of the endocannabinoid system is associated with obesity and low BAT activity, we hypothesized that South Asians have a higher endocannabinoid tone. Healthy lean white Caucasian (n?=?10) and South Asian (n?=?10) men were cold-exposed to activate BAT. Before and after cooling, REE was assessed and plasma was collected for analysis of endocannabinoids and lipids. At thermoneutrality, South Asians had higher plasma levels of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG; 11.36 vs 8.19?pmol/mL, p?2?=?0.32, p?2?=?0.18, p?2?=?0.46, p?2?=?0.33, p?

SUBMITTER: Kantae V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5548787 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature