Associations of Cannabis Use, Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease, and Liver Fibrosis in U.S. Adults.

Abstract

Introduction: Following the introduction of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) as a replacement term for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, the relationship between MASLD and cannabis use has yet to be established. With the global rise in cannabis consumption, understanding its impact on MASLD is critical for clinical guidance. Our study investigated the association between cannabis use, MASLD, and clinically significant fibrosis (CSF) among U.S. adults. Methods: Data were collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for the period 2017 to 2018 to conduct a cross-sectional analysis. The diagnosis of hepatic steatosis and CSF was based on median values of the controlled attenuation parameter and liver stiffness measurement, with thresholds of 285 dB/m and 8.6 kPa, respectively. Information on cannabis use was obtained through self-report questionnaires. Multinomial logistic regression models and subgroup analyses were used to investigate the association between cannabis use and MASLD with CSF. Results: Our study assessed data from 2,756 U.S. adults (51.1% female; 32.2% white; mean age 39.41 ± 11.83 years), who had complete information on liver stiffness measurements through transient elastography alongside reported cannabis use. Results indicated that cannabis use overall was not associated with liver stiffness in patients with MASLD. However, among females, cannabis use was associated with MASLD accompanied by CSF, with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 0.47 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.24-0.91). Heavy cannabis use (9 to 30 times per month) was associated with MASLD accompanied by CSF among female participants, with an adjusted OR of 0.12 (95% CI: 0.02-0.88). Conclusion: In our study, cannabis use did not show a significant association with liver stiffness in patients diagnosed with MASLD. However, heavy cannabis consumption in women was associated with MASLD accompanied by CSF. These findings suggest that the effects of cannabis on liver health may differ based on gender and frequency of cannabis use, emphasizing the need for further research in this area.