ArticlePloS one2017
Inverse association of marijuana use with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease among adults in the United States.
Article in PloS one, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 19 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
19 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 34 citations in OpenAlex.
- Marijuana is not associated with progression of hepatic fibrosis in liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European journal of gastroenterology & hepatology · 2019Pooled it
- Diet and Lifestyle Interventions in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease: A Comprehensive Review.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Review
- Review
- Nutritional and Lifestyle Therapy for NAFLD in People with HIV.Nutrients · 2023Review
- Expanding Research on Cannabis-Based Medicines for Liver Steatosis: A Low-Risk High-Reward Way Out of the Present Deadlock?Cannabis and cannabinoid research · 2023Article
- Article
- Cannabinoids and Chronic Liver Diseases.International journal of molecular sciences · 2022Review
- Cannabis Extract Effects on Metabolic Parameters and Gut Microbiota Composition in a Mice Model of NAFLD and Obesity.Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM · 2022Article
- Wonder or evil?: Multifaceted health hazards and health benefits ofSaudi journal of biological sciences · 2021Review
- Lean NAFLD: an underrecognized and challenging disorder in medicine.Reviews in endocrine & metabolic disorders · 2021Review
- Phytocannabinoids-A Green Approach toward Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Treatment.Journal of clinical medicine · 2021Review
- Cannabis use history is associated with increased prevalence of ascites among patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A nationwide analysis.World journal of hepatology · 2020Article
- Does Cannabis Intake Protect Against Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease? A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study.Frontiers in genetics · 2020Article
- Cannabis Extracts Affected Metabolic Syndrome Parameters in Mice Fed High-Fat/Cholesterol Diet.Cannabis and cannabinoid research · 2020Article
- Canadian Association of Gastroenterology Position Statement: Use of Cannabis in Gastroenterological and Hepatic Disorders.Journal of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology · 2019Article
- The role of gut microbiota in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: pathways of mechanisms.Bioscience of microbiota, food and health · 2019Review
- Potential Mechanisms Influencing the Inverse Relationship Between Cannabis and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Commentary.Nutrition and metabolic insights · 2019Article
- Potential Therapeutic Benefits of Herbs and Supplements in Patients with NAFLD.Diseases (Basel, Switzerland) · 2018Review
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea.Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine · 2018Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
BACKGROUND &
aimsThe impact of marijuana on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is largely unknown. We studied the association between marijuana and NAFLD utilizing cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2005-2014 and NHANES III (1988-1994).
methodsSuspected NAFLD was diagnosed if serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was > 30 IU/L for men and > 19 IU/L for women in the absence of other liver diseases (NHANES 2005-2014). In NHANES III cohort, NAFLD was defined based on ultrasonography.
resultsOf the 14,080 (NHANES 2005-2014) and 8,286 (NHANES III) participants, prevalence of suspected NAFLD and ultrasonographically-diagnosed NAFLD were inversely associated with marijuana use (p < 0.001). Compared to marijuana-naïve participants, marijuana users were less likely to have suspected NAFLD (odds ratio [OR]: 0.90, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.82-0.99 for past user; OR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.58-0.80 for current user) and ultrasonographically-diagnosed NAFLD (OR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.57-0.98 for current user) in the age, gender, ethnicity-adjusted model. On multivariate analysis, the ORs for suspected NAFLD comparing current light or heavy users to non-users were 0.76 (95% CI 0.58-0.98) and 0.70 (95% CI 0.56-0.89), respectively (P for trend = 0.001) with similar trends in ultrasonographically-diagnosed NAFLD (OR: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.59-1.00 for current user; OR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.51-0.97 for current light user). In insulin resistance-adjusted model, marijuana use remained an independent predictor of lower risk of suspected NAFLD.
conclusionsIn this nationally representative sample, active marijuana use provided a protective effect against NAFLD independent of known metabolic risk factors. The pathophysiology is unclear and warrants further investigation.
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