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Cannabis ingredient can restore lost taste in cancer patients--study
MedGuru Thursday 24 Feb 2011 According the study, an ingredient called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) present in marijuana, can help in recovery of lost enthusiasm and enjoyment associated with eating. Dr. Wendy Wismer, an associate professor at the University of Alberta, along with her colleagues initiated the study that aimed at finding a cure for the loss of pleasure in food in cancer [abnormal cells that divide without control, which can invade nearby tissues or spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to other parts of the body. ] patients. "The findings were important because cancer, or its treatment, can cripple appetite and lead to dangerous weight loss. Many cancer patients, for instance, complain that meat smells and tastes unpleasant, so they eat less of it. For a long time, everyone has thought that nothing could be done about this," the lead researcher said. "Indeed, cancer patients are often told to 'cope' with chemosensory problems by eating bland, cold and colorless food. This may well have the result of reducing food intake and food enjoyment," Wismer informed. Study details For the research, 21 people who had undergone chemotherapy for advanced stage cancer were enrolled. The study participants were randomly assigned into two groups, and while the first group was given delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) capsules, those in second group received a placebo drug. After taking the tablets regularly for 18 days, the study subjects were asked to fill up questionnaires by the researchers. It was found that though both the groups consumed nearly similar number of calories, but the results were surprisingly different. Seventy-three percent in first group said that they had started liking what they ate and 55 percent said that the food tasted much better, after taking the THC tablets. On the other hand, only 30 percent in the placebo-taking group developed a liking for what they ate and only 10 percent thought that the food tasted better. "The THC-takers also reported better quality of sleep and relaxation than in the placebo group. The experiment is small scale but the first to explore the touted qualities of THC through random selection of volunteers and use of a control group by which to make a comparison," noted the researchers. A likely treatment for cancer patients Wismer said that the finding could help doctors in adopting the THC therapy for cancer-affected people, who had lost their 'taste, smell and appetite'. "THC was well tolerated, and in terms of side effects there were no differences between the THC and placebo groups, which suggest that long-term therapy is also an option," she informed. The study has been detailed in the Feb. online edition of the 'Annals of Oncology, and has also been published by the European Society for Medical Oncology. http://www.themedguru.com/20110224/newsfeature/cannabis-ingredient-can-restore-lost-taste-cancer-patients-study-86143773.html
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