The endocannabinoid system and its receptors are of great importance during prenatal development, but they are also relevant after childbirth. Not everybody is aware that there are already natural cannabinoids in breast milk and what role they play in the development of a human.
In 2004, the European Journal of Pharmacology published a study that stated that all humans are born with cannabinoid receptors, suggesting that endocannabinoids and their receptors have a strong influence during pre and postnatal development.
Previously, during the 1970’s, it was shown that endocannabinoids could be involved in processes related to food and appetite. However, it took 30 years for endocannabinoids to be detected in bovine and human milk. Shortly thereafter, CB1 receptors of the endocannabinoid system, were seen to develop before week 14 of gestation.
What are the effects of cannabinoids in breast milk?
Based on these findings, researchers decided to investigate whether cannabinoids could be a stimulus for newborns to start drinking milk. The results of these studies demonstrated that the activation of the CB1 receptors are critical for sucking milk. This means that the endocannabinoid system is a fundamental factor for the development of a newborn’s appetite, when they are first learning to feed.
However, the endocannabinoids in breast milk do not only have food-related functions. These components have also been shown to help protect neurons in the postnatal development of the brain ?
There is still a great deal to be discovered in relation to cannabinoids in breast milk. For example, it is known that cannabinoids adhere easily to fat, which is abundant in breast milk. That is why scientists are currently investigating whether the exposure of cannabis to the mother during the lactation period has any relevance in the transmission of active components in the plant to newborns. However, the process is being slowed down by the difficulties in analysing cannabinoids and fats separately.
So far, researchers have developed a method based on saponification, a process similar to that used to make soap, in order to isolate cannabinoids from fat in the milk. Thanks to this process, different traces of active components of the cannabis plant (such as THC) have been detected in the milk. From these findings researchers and trials have suggested that cannabinoids may make the child less susceptible to the psychoactive effects of the cannabis plant, in comparison to adults. Despite this fact, the effects of these components on infants are still practically unknown, since the current techniques are limited when measuring cannabinoids other than THC
References
Ester Fride, The endocannabinoid-CB1 receptor system in pre- and postnatal life. European Journal of Pharmacology, Volume 500, Issues 1–3, 1 October 2004, Pages 289-297, ISSN 0014-2999
Binnian Wei, James E. McGuffey, Benjamin C. Blount, and Lanqing Wang. Sensitive Quantification of Cannabinoids in Milk by Alkaline Saponification–Solid Phase Extraction Combined with Isotope Dilution UPLC–MS/MS. ACS Omega 2016 1 (6), 1307-1313 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.6b00253
Cannabinoids & Breastmilk Debunked
Here we are debunking yet another inaccurate Instagram post. Recent research suggests that the endogenous cannabinoids (“endocannabinoids”) and the cannabinoid (CB) receptors have a major influence during pre- and post-natal development. But you can find several posts throughout social media making inaccurate claims regarding the type of cannabinoids that have been found in breast milk. The following post found on Instagram claims the following...
"Study confirms Cannabinoids Occur Naturally in Human Breast Milk ...According to the findings of several major scientific studies, human breast milk naturally contains of the same cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, which are vital for proper human development."
As most informed scientist reading this post cringe at the inaccuracy of this post, we have actually found, through a simple Google search, several articles inaccurately claiming that human breast milk naturally contains the same cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant.
In order to debunk this widespread inaccuracy, it is important to explain the difference between phytocannabinoids and endocannabinoids.
"Phyto" is a prefix meaning "of a plant" and is used in the formation of compound words. Thus, the term phytocannabinoid is used to describe cannabinoids derived from a plant. "Endo" is a prefix from the Greek word endon (ἔνδον) meaning "within, inner, absorbing, or containing" and is often used in the formation of medical compound words referencing nomenclature defining compounds with origins from within a biological body. Thus, the term endocannabinoid is used to describe cannabinoids synthesized from within a biological body.
Because phytocannabinoids are NOT the same as endocannabinoids, we decided to recreate the Instagram post to reflect an accurate statement derived from current scientific research.
"According to scientific research, endocannabinoids are present in breast milk, 2-AG levels being much higher than those of anandamide, suggesting that the endocannabinoid system plays a major role in human development."
For those unfamiliar with endocannabinoids, two of the most studied endocannabinoids are 2-AG and anandamide (anandamide being nicknamed "the bliss molecule"). Subsequently, two of the most studied phytocannabinoids are CBD and delta-9 THC.
While anandamide structurally resembles delta-9 THC, they are two completely different molecules, having different effects on the body. Additionally, CBD does not resemble any endocannabinoid found in the human body. In fact, it doesn't even bind directly to the cannabinoid (CB) receptors. Instead, CBD changes the shape of the receptors, increasing the binding affinity of endogenous molecules found inside our bodies.
Anandamide acts as a chemical messenger between the embryo and uterus during implantation in the uterine wall. Therefore, anandamide is one of the first communications that occurs between mother and child. Due to the structural similarity between delta-9 THC and anandamide, scientists have raised the possibility that delta-9 THC may interfere with signaling between the uterus and the embryo. Experiments involving mouse embryos exposed to THC-like compounds have shown them to have a significantly lower survival rate than normal, as well as exhibit a number of abnormalities. Thus, consumption of cannabis during pregnancy is strongly advised against.
In women accordingly, an association has been reported between fatty acid amide hydrolase (the enzyme that breaks down anandamide) in human lymphocytes and the occurrence of miscarriages. It is important to note that a reported association is not sufficient evidence to make any scientific conclusions. Additionally activation of CB1 receptors appears to be critical for milk sucking by newborn mice, apparently activating oral–motor musculature. This animal study observation has not yet been conducted in humans to see if the correlation translates from animals to humans.
While the medical implications of these novel observations suggest a promising future for cannabinoids in medicine for a variety of conditions, it is important that misinformation does not become misperceived as common knowledge.
