P947 medical cannabis increases appetite but not body weight in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases

Medical cannabis (MC) is prescribed to improve appetite and nutritional status in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) despite no supporting evidence. We aimed to describe the effect of MC on appetite and dietary intake among patients with IBD.

An observational prospective cohort study, among patients with IBD, initiating treatment with MC for disease related symptoms, at the IBD clinic of a tertiary referral medical center. Patients’ demographics, anthropometric measurements, medical history, cannabis use history, and medical treatment were documented and an appetite questionnaire (SNAQ), and food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) were filled before MC initiation and throughout 6 months of treatment.

Of patients enrolled in the study (n=149, age 39.0±14.1 years, 42.3% female) and treated with MC for disease related symptoms, on top of their routine therapy regimen, while 33.6% received MC for increasing appetite and improving nutritional status. Among patients treated for raising appetite and improving nutritional status, 34.0% experienced a significant increase in appetite after 3 months. None the less, all patients experienced a modest increase in appetite (P<0.05), a trend which was more profound among patients treated with high THC/CBD ratio (SNAQ score 27.0±4.1 at 3 months vs. 25.2±3.6 at baseline, P=0.021). Nonetheless, this increase in appetite throughout the study did not result in increased energy, macronutrient intake or in BMI following MC treatment. Among patients without a significant increase in appetite by 3 months of MC therapy, a significant decrease in BMI was noticed at 6 months (24.1±3.7 at baseline vs. 23.4±3.6 at 6 months, Pv=0.010).

Use of MC, and specifically THC, may be a potential strategy to improve appetite among some patients with IBD. This increase in appetite was not associated with an increase in caloric intake or in BMI at follow-up.