The endocannabinoid system (ECS) consists of endogenous cannabinoids, their receptors, and metabolic enzymes that play a critical homeostatic role in modulating polyunsaturated omega fatty acid (PUFA) signaling to maintain a balanced inflammatory and redox state. Whole food-based diets and dietary interventions linked to PUFAs of animal (fish, calamari, krill) or plant (hemp, flax, walnut, algae) origin, as well as full-spectrum hemp oils, are increasingly used to support the ECS tone, promote healthy metabolism, improve risk factors associated with cardiovascular disorders, encourage brain health and emotional well-being, and ameliorate inflammation. While hemp cannabinoids of THC and CBD groups show distinct but complementary actions through a variety of cannabinoid (CB1 and CB2), adenosine (A2A), and vanilloid (TRPV1) receptors, they also modulate PUFA metabolism within a wide variety of specialized lipid mediators that promote or resolve inflammation and oxidative stress. Clinical evidence reviewed in this study links PUFAs and cannabinoids to changes in ECS tone, immune function, metabolic and oxidative stress adaptation, and overall maintenance of a well-balanced systemic function of the body. Understanding how the body coordinates signals from the exogenous and endogenous ECS modulators is critical for discerning the underlying molecular mechanisms of the ECS tone in healthy and disease states. Nutritional and lifestyle interventions represent promising approaches to address chronic metabolic and inflammatory disorders that may overlap in the population at risk. Further investigation and validation of dietary interventions that modulate the ECS are required in order to devise clinically successful second-generation management strategies.

Proteomics monitoring of an elite adventure athlete (age 33 years) was conducted over a 28-week period that culminated in the successful, solo, unassisted, and unsupported two month trek across the Antarctica (1500 km). Training distress was monitored weekly using a 19-item, validated training distress scale (TDS). Weekly dried blood spot (DBS) specimens were collected via fingerprick blood drops onto standard blood spot cards. DBS proteins were measured with nano-electrospray ionization liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (nanoLC-MS/MS) in data-independent acquisition (DIA) mode, and 712 proteins were identified and quantified. The 28-week period was divided into time segments based on TDS scores, and a contrast analysis between weeks five and eight (low TDS) and between weeks 20 and 23 (high TDS, last month of Antarctica trek) showed that 31 proteins (n = 20 immune related) were upregulated and 35 (n = 17 immune related) were downregulated. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks supported a dichotomous immune response. Gene ontology (GO) biological process terms for the upregulated immune proteins showed an increase in regulation of the immune system process, especially inflammation, complement activation, and leukocyte mediated immunity. At the same time, GO terms for the downregulated immune-related proteins indicated a decrease in several aspects of the overall immune system process including neutrophil degranulation and the antimicrobial humoral response. These proteomics data support a dysfunctional immune response in an elite adventure athlete during a sustained period of mental and physical distress while trekking solo across the Antarctica.

A-F Betafood^® is a whole food-based health product. The product contains phytonutrients and bioactives with antioxidant properties that may support gallbladder and liver function. Herein, we investigated the efficacy of A-F Betafood^® on gallbladder and liver function. In this randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel study fifty overweight but otherwise healthy adults received A-F Betafood^® or placebo for 12 weeks. Gallbladder function as assessed by gallbladder volume, ejection fraction (GBEF), ejection rate, wall thickness and liver function determined via aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyltransferase, and high-sensitivity c-reactive protein analysis at baseline and week 12 were the primary outcomes. Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglycerides, and oxidative stress markers including oxidized low-density lipoprotein, tumor necrosis factor-α, adiponectin and malonyldialdehyde (MDA) were assessed as secondary outcomes. A-F Betafood^®-supplementation significantly reduced gallbladder wall thickness (p = 0.049) by 9% compared to placebo from baseline to week 12. The A-F Betafood^® group alone had significant improvements in gallbladder volume (32%; p = 0.044) and GBEF (19%; p = 0.047) at week 12. There were no changes in liver function, oxidative stress markers or blood lipid concentrations, though MDA concentrations decreased in both groups. Our findings demonstrate A-F Betafood^®-supplementation significantly improves measures of gallbladder function and support healthy gallbladder function in the individuals with gall bladder condition.