Newswise — July 13, 2022 — Younger women who use cannabis regularly, even when healthy and physically active, aren’t able to produce as much anaerobic power as nonusers, and they show signs of greater risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a study in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, a publication of The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.
Laura K. Stewart, PhD, FACSM, a professor in the School of Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Northern Colorado, and colleagues compared 12 healthy female cannabis users with 12 female nonusers. Both groups were 19 to 34 years old and regularly engaging in resistance and aerobic training.
Nonusers had not consumed any cannabis products for at least 12 months. At their first study visit, all users said they had smoked cannabis or eaten an edible product in the past 2 weeks. The average duration of cannabis use was 6 years, and average frequency of use was 15 days a month. No cannabis user also smoked tobacco.
Differences between cannabis users and non-users
The researchers found that cannabis users differed substantially from nonusers in two important ways:
Anaerobic performance—Anaerobic exercise is short bursts of intense effort where the body can’t process oxygen fast enough to use it as fuel. That type of exercise increases muscle mass, strength, and cardiovascular fitness. In this study, anaerobic performance was measured on a stationary bike where the women pedaled as fast as they could against resistance for 30 seconds.
Compared with nonusers, cannabis users showed 18% less power output during the first 5 seconds of pedaling and 20% less during the second 5-second period. These differences were statistically significant. The authors note this difference in power production “is important for both coaches and athletes to consider whether the athlete’s performance relies heavily on short-term power production.”
Risk of cardiovascular disease—Controlling inflammation in the body is essential for maintaining optimal health and athletic performance. Once age was accounted for, cannabis users showed significantly higher concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), an indicator of inflammation, compared with nonusers. Moreover, the younger the age at the time of initiating cannabis use, the higher the CRP concentration.
Moderate increased risk of cardiovascular disease
All told, based on CRP concentrations, cannabis users were at moderate risk of cardiovascular disease and nonusers were at low risk.
The two groups were similar in aerobic performance, lung function, cardiorespiratory fitness, and muscle strength. “This may be related to the overall good health and regular physical activity status of many of the study subjects,” the authors point out. “It is possible that it may take longer for the effects of regularly using cannabis to appear.”
The primary active components of cannabis, called cannabinoids, are THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). The authors emphasize that the use of cannabis products containing THC or any other cannabinoid is explicitly prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). “The only exception to this is that WADA does permit athletes to use products containing pure CBD,” they explain. “The use of any other cannabinoid by an athlete could result in serious consequences including suspension.”
DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004297
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About The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
The editorial mission of The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research (JSCR) is to advance the knowledge about strength and conditioning through research. A unique aspect of this journal is that it includes recommendations for the practical use of research findings. While the journal name identifies strength and conditioning as separate entities, strength is considered a part of conditioning. The journal wishes to promote the publication of peer-reviewed manuscripts which add to our understanding of conditioning and sport through applied exercise science. The JSCR is the official research journal of the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
About The National Strength and Conditioning Association
Founded in 1978, The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is a nonprofit association dedicated to advancing the strength and conditioning and related sport science professions around the world.
The NSCA exists to empower a community of professionals to maximize their impact through disseminating evidence-based knowledge and its practical application by offering industry-leading certifications, research journals, career development services, networking opportunities, and continuing education. The NSCA community is composed of more than 60,000 members and certified professionals throughout the world who further industry standards as researchers, educators, strength and conditioning coaches, performance and sport scientists, personal trainers, tactical professionals, and other related roles.
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Journal Link: The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
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