Acute alcohol exposure decreases circulating anandamide levels in humans

Authors

• CW Grant
• ME Sloan
• R Cinar
• BL Stangl
• TD Klepp
• HW Brewton
• N DiazGranados
• G Kunos
• VA Ramchandani

Abstract

Recent evidence suggests that severity of alcohol dependence is associated with a functional variation in the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) gene that leads to decreased anandamide metabolism. However, it remains unclear whether alcohol consumption alters anandamide levels. In the current analysis, we examined the effects of acute alcohol administration on circulating anandamide levels in humans. Study one enrolled forty-eight healthy volunteers that received, in randomized order, alcohol infusions to achieve and maintain a steady-state (“clamped”) exposure of 50 mg% or saline. Study two enrolled twenty-five healthy volunteers that underwent an intravenous alcohol self-administration procedure to achieve their preferred alcohol level. Blood samples were collected at baseline and following infusion in both studies and assayed for anandamide levels by LC-MS. In study one, there was a significant reduction in anandamide following IV alcohol compared to placebo (p=0.021). Percent body-fat showed a significant interaction with decrease in anandamide (p=0.002).” Study two also revealed a significant reduction in anandamide levels post infusion (p

Scientific Focus Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences

This page was last updated on Friday, March 26, 2021