The study’s main objective is to investigate the effects of fetal exposure to cannabis on adiposity and glucose-insulin characteristics in early childhood. The research is intended to shed light on the potential adverse impacts of in-utero cannabis exposure on a child’s metabolic health, offering valuable insights for preventive healthcare and risk assessment.

To conduct this study, a subset of 103 mother-child pairs was selected from the diverse Healthy Start cohort in Colorado. The study involved analyzing maternal urine samples collected at around 27 weeks of gestation to assess exposure to twelve cannabis cannabinoids/metabolites, including Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol. The classification of fetal cannabis exposure was based on whether any cannabinoid levels exceeded the limit of detection (exposed) or all levels were below the limit of detection (unexposed).

At an average follow-up age of 4.7 years, the researchers measured fat mass, fat-free mass, adiposity, body mass index (BMI), BMI z-scores, as well as metabolic parameters such as glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance. The study used generalized linear models to explore potential associations between fetal cannabis exposure and these outcomes.

The findings revealed that approximately 15% of mothers had detectable levels of cannabinoids during pregnancy, indicating instances of fetal cannabis exposure. The exposed children exhibited increased fat mass, fat-free mass, adiposity, and fasting glucose compared to the unexposed group. However, after adjusting for various factors, no significant associations were found with fasting insulin, insulin resistance, BMI, or BMI z-scores.

In conclusion, this comprehensive study provides groundbreaking evidence linking fetal cannabis exposure to increased adiposity and fasting glucose levels in childhood. This suggests potential long-term health implications for children exposed to cannabis in utero. However, the results call for further validation through additional research in different cohorts to strengthen our understanding of the effects of prenatal cannabis exposure.

The primary goal of this study is to explore and examine the impact of fetal exposure to cannabis on adiposity and glucose-insulin characteristics at early stages of life. The study aims to highlight the possible harmful effects of cannabis exposure in utero on a child’s metabolic health, providing invaluable insights into preventive healthcare and risk assessment. Research Design and Methods: This intricate study was undertaken using a selective subset of 103 mother-child pairs. These pairs were chosen from a culturally varied and ethnically diverse cohort called the Healthy Start cohort, which is centered in Colorado. To accurately measure the level of cannabis exposure, we scrutinized twelve cannabinoids/metabolites of cannabis, including the most prevalent ones, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol, in the maternal urine samples. These samples were collected at an approximate gestational age of 27 weeks. The measurement and classification methods were meticulous. We classified the fetal exposure to cannabis as either exposed (if any cannabinoid level was above the limit of detection [LOD]) or unexposed (if all cannabinoids were below the LOD). We then measured the fat mass and fat-free mass using air displacement plethysmography at the time of follow-up when the child was about 4.7 years old on average. After ensuring an overnight fast, we collected glucose and insulin measures. By using generalized linear models, we estimated the potential associations between fetal cannabis exposure and adiposity. This included fat mass [kg], fat-free mass [kg], adiposity [fat mass percentage], body mass index [BMI], and BMI z-scores, as well as metabolic measures such as glucose [mg/dL], insulin [uIU/mL], and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance [HOMA-IR]. Results: The results highlighted that approximately 15% of the mothers had detectable cannabinoid levels in their systems during pregnancy, suggesting an incident of fetal cannabis exposure. The exposed children, when compared to the unexposed group, showed increased fat mass (1.0 kg; 95% CI, 0.3-1.7), fat-free mass (1.2 kg; 95% CI, 0.4-2.0), adiposity (2.6%; 95% CI, 0.1-5.2), and fasting glucose (5.6 mg/dL; 95% CI, 0.8-10.3). However, in the fully adjusted model, we did not find any significant associations with fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, BMI, or BMI z-scores. Conclusions: This uniquely comprehensive study presents groundbreaking evidence linking fetal cannabis exposure to increased adiposity and fasting glucose levels during childhood. This link proposes potential long-term health consequences for children exposed to cannabis in utero. However, the results of this study warrant further validation and investigation by conducting similar research in other cohorts to corroborate these findings and further enhance our understanding of the effects of prenatal cannabis exposure.