Genistein May Lower Heart Disease Risk in Cannabis Users

Researchers at Stanford have discovered that THC increases the risk of heart attack by binding to cannabinoid receptors in blood vessels. However, this risk may be avoided by taking genistein, a compound abundant in soybeans. Genistein not only reduces the negative effects but also preserves the psychoactive properties of THC.

According to a new study published in the journal Cell, THC can promote inflammation in human endothelial cells grown in the lab. This inflammation can lead to atherosclerosis—the buildup of fat-containing proteins, cholesterol, and other substances inside artery walls. This process is believed to be one of the causes of heart attacks.

An analysis of medical and genetic records from about 500,000 people in the UK Biobank confirmed that those who smoked marijuana more than once a month were more likely to have a heart attack before age 50. Importantly, the analysis showed that age, body mass index, and gender were similar between users and non-users.

The scientists hypothesized that if a user takes a CB1 receptor antagonist (the receptor targeted by THC), the health risks could be avoided. They focused on genistein—the only molecule in soybeans that binds to CB1 but does not cross the blood-brain barrier. In other words, according to their hypothesis, administering genistein would fully preserve the psychoactive effects of THC on brain receptors, but prevent cannabinoids from binding to the same receptors in blood vessels, thereby preventing atherosclerosis.

To test this, researchers gave genistein to laboratory mice with high cholesterol levels.

“We did not observe any reduction in the pain-relieving or sedative effects of THC in mice, which contribute to the potentially beneficial therapeutic properties of marijuana,” said Mark, a co-author of the study. “Thus, genistein is potentially a safer drug than previous CB1 antagonists. It is already used as a dietary supplement, and 99% of it remains outside the brain.”

The researchers now hope to conduct full clinical trials to determine whether genistein can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in people who use cannabis.