Link found between marijuana use and periodontal disease
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- Published: Tuesday, 14 June 2016 07:52
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The risk of periodontal disease may be increased with long-term marijuana (cannabis) use, according to a new study published in JAMA Psychiatry. However, the study found no link between long-term use of the drug and greater risk of other physical health problems. The study co-author analysed the data of 1,037 adults from Dunedin New Zealand.
Subjects in the study were born in New Zealand in 1972-1973 and were followed up from birth until the age of 38 years. They underwent regular health and lifestyle assessments during follow-up.
Madeline Meier of Arizona State University, and colleagues looked at the frequency of marijuana use among participants between the ages of 18-38 and assessed whether this impacted physical health at the age of 38. Specifically, they looked at whether marijuana use affected later-life periodontal health and other conditions. Compared with participants who did not use marijuana, the researchers found persistent marijuana use for up to 20 years was associated with greater risk of periodontal disease at the age of 38. When it came to other later-life physical health problems, however, long-term marijuana users were found to be at no greater risk than non-users of the drug.
Commenting on their results, the authors say: "In general, our findings showed that cannabis use over 20 years was unrelated to health problems in early midlife. Across several domains of health (periodontal health, lung function, systemic inflammation, and metabolic health), clear evidence of an adverse association with cannabis use was apparent for only one domain, namely, periodontal health."
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