title: [The endocannabinoid system, overweight, and the CB1-endocannabinoid-receptor antagonist rimonabant].
abstract: --Obesity is an important healthcare issue. --Recent research has led to insights into the role of the endocannabinoid system in the regulation of body weight. --Rimonabant is a CB1-endocannabinoid-receptor antagonist. --Four trials were published recently on the efficacy and safety of rimonabant in the treatment of people with obesity. --When combined with a hypocaloric diet, rimonabant 20 mg/day was more effective than placebo in achieving and maintaining weight loss. In addition, treatment with rimonabant had beneficial effects on insulin resistance, HDL-cholesterol and hypertriglyceridaemia. --There is concern regarding the increased incidence of depression during treatment. --Whether the beneficial effects of rimonabant on weight reduction and cardiovascular risk factors translate into a reduction in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality remains to be established in large phase III trials.
authors.affiliation: Academisch Medisch Centrum/Universiteit van Amsterdam, afd. Cardiologie. s.m.boekholdt@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Boekholdt
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Jukema
authors.forename: R J G
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Peters
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy; D010880:Piperidines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D000077285:Rimonabant; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D010880:Piperidines; D011720:Pyrazoles; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; D000077285:Rimonabant