Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42463843›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2026

Inhaling high THC cannabis acutely increases inflammation but not insulin sensitivity: a quasi-randomized trial.

Angela D Bryan, Carillon J Skrzynski, Jinqiu Yang, Kyle A Chrystal, L Cinnamon Bidwell, Kent E Hutchison, Leigh Perreault

Registry-linked trialAbstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04114903 (Exploring the Anti-inflammatory Properties of Cannabis and Their Relevance to Insulin Sensitivity), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT04114903 completednot on this map

Exploring the Anti-inflammatory Properties of Cannabis and Their Relevance to Insulin Sensitivity

TypeobservationalSponsorUniversity of Colorado, BoulderRan2019 to 2024Enrolled233ConditionsType 2 Diabetes, Obesity, Cannabis Use, Insulin SensitivityArmsStudy A: Single use of cannabis flower product, Study B: Ad libitum cannabis use for four weeks or no cannabis use
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Angela D BryanDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, UCB 345, Boulder, 80309, CO, USA. angela.bryan@colorado.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6019-3380
Carillon J SkrzynskiDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, UCB 345, Boulder, 80309, CO, USA.
Jinqiu YangDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, UCB 345, Boulder, 80309, CO, USA.
Kyle A ChrystalDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, UCB 345, Boulder, 80309, CO, USA.
L Cinnamon BidwellDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, UCB 345, Boulder, 80309, CO, USA.
Kent E HutchisonUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
Leigh PerreaultUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.

Funding

Exploring the anti-inflammatory properties of cannabis and their relevance to insulin sensitivityR01DA050515 · NIDA · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO · PI BRYAN, ANGELA · 2019 to 2023
$2.8M
NIDA NIH HHS 1R01DA50515-01A1NIDA NIH HHS R01 DA050515
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cannabis is linked with increased appetite, raising concern about obesity-related disease and type 2 diabetes. Yet data suggest metabolic benefits of cannabis through inflammatory processes and insulin sensitivity. This was a quasi-randomly assigned experimental study comparing acute effects of a CBD-dominant versus THC-dominant versus CBD + THC cannabis flower product. Data were collected from community participants through a mobile pharmacology laboratory and a clinical research center. Participants smoked their assigned pre-rolled cannabis flower cigarette ad libitum. Primary outcomes were IL-10, chemokine MCP-1, a composite of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-12, IFNG, and IL-4), and insulin sensitivity (Matsuda index). Outcomes were predicted by peak blood levels of THC and CBD immediately after cannabis use. Hypotheses were that inflammation and insulin sensitivity would vary as a function of CBD and THC exposure, and that inflammatory changes would be associated with insulin sensitivity. Participants (n = 108) were 25 to 45 (Mage = 29.7, sd = 5.4), 56.5% Female, and 88.0% white. Mixed effect models indicated a time X peak THC blood level interaction (B = 0.003, SE = 0.001, p = 0.037). As THC blood levels increased, inflammation increased more after acute use. There was a THC X CBD X time interaction on IL-10 (B=-0.001, SE = 0.000, p < 0.001). Higher than average peak blood THC was related to increasing IL-10 over time while lower than average peak THC was related to decreasing IL-10 over time but only at average or lower peak CBD levels. Cannabis use decreased MCP-1 acutely (effect for time: B=-48.757, SE = 15.061, p = 0.002), while there was no effect on the Matsuda Index. Acute cannabis use is associated with increases in both pro- and anti-inflammatory circulating cytokines, but not with insulin sensitivity. Additional research on the possible mediating mechanisms involved in the connection between cannabis use and type 2 diabetes is required.Trial registration: Gov NCT04114903, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04114903, Registration date 11/08/2019.

Indexed as

CannabisCBDInflammationInsulin sensitivityTHCType 2 diabetes

Identifiers

PMID42463843

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.