Endocannabinoids--the new option in the treatment of metabolic syndrome and in smoking cessation

Development of the metabolic syndrome results from the interaction of genetic and environmental factors. Metabolic syndrome together with smoking represents risk factors for the development of cardiovascular complications. They may result from the hyperstimulation of the endocannabinoid system. The CB1 receptor has been assumed to play an important role in the endocannabionoid system. It is abundantly expressed in the brain, and in other parts of human body such as in the fat tissue. Rimonabant is a selective blocker of cannabinoid-1 (CB1) receptors and participates in the regulation of impaired endocannabinoid system. In the overweight humans, it stimulates sustained reduction of the body weight, girth size and it improves lipid and glucose metabolism. Rimonabant also reduces nicotine self-administration and may be effective not only as an aid for smoking cessation but also in the prevention of body weight increase related to the smoking cessation as it was documented in Rio-Lipids and Stratus-us studies.