Context: Endocannabinoids are suggested to play a role in energy balance regulation.

Objective: We aimed to investigate associations of endocannabinoid concentrations during the day with energy balance and adiposity and interactions with 2 diets differing in protein content in participants in the post-obese phase with pre-diabetes.

Design and participants: Participants (n=38) were individually fed in energy balance with a medium protein (MP: 15:55:30% of energy from protein:carbohydrate:fat) or high-protein diet (HP: 25:45:30% energy from P:C:F) for 48 hours in a respiration chamber.

Main outcome measures: Associations between energy balance, energy expenditure, respiratory quotient, and endocannabinoid concentrations during the day were assessed.

Results: Plasma-concentrations of anandamide (AEA), oleoylethanolamide (OEA), palmitoyethanolamide (PEA), and pregnenolone (PREG) significantly decreased during the day. This decrease was inversely related to BMI (AEA) or body-fat (%) (PEA; OEA). The lowest RQ value, before lunch, was inversely associated with concentrations of AEA and PEA before lunch. AUC of concentrations of AEA, 2-AG, PEA, and OEA were positively related to body-fat% (P < 0.05). 

The HP and MP groups showed no differences in concentrations of AEA, OEA, PEA, and PREG, but the AUC of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) was significantly higher in the HP vs. the MP group.

Conclusions: In energy balance, only the endocannabinoid 2-AG changed in relation to protein level of the diet, while the endocannabinoid AEA, and endocannabinoid-related compounds OEA and PEA reflected the gradual energy intake matching energy expenditure over the day.