Research Indicates Clinical Trials Are Needed to Determine CBD Benefits for Heart Disease

Investigators who reviewed existing study results of cannabidiol (CBD) usage found that no clinical recommendations of the anti-inflammatory benefits for heart disease can be made given current evidence, according to a research presentation at the American College of Cardiology Latin America 2022 Together with CardioAcademic.

However, high-quality randomized clinical trials are needed to determine if anti-inflammatory benefits of CBD for heart disease will support preclinical data, investigators said.

“Cannabidiol and medical cannabis use, alongside its many products, has increased considerably in the last decade. Nonetheless, there are few indications for its use based on good clinical trials,” Mario Esteban Zúñiga Ayala, MD, a cardiology fellow at Hospital Regional 1 º de Octubre ISSSTE in Mexico City, said in a statement.

Here we seek to provide preclinical evidence, which ultimately serves as the cornerstone to establishing well-designed clinical trials in humans to prove the effect of CBD on coronary syndromes with strong scientific evidence,”

“CBD has substantial evidence for the following conditions: pain, cachexia, nausea and vomiting, multiple sclerosis spasticity, and, most recently, epilepsy. Its pharmacological profile shows it is safe and well-tolerated in humans, although it has well-described [adverse events], but the interaction with other medications often used by cardiologists, such as anticoagulation and anti-platelet drugs, is not well-known,” Zúñiga Ayala said.

CBD is derived from cannabis and has no psychoactive activity.

Trends show that marijuana is the most used substance compared with other drugs, such as cocaine and heroin, according to the study’s investigators.

Because of CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties, investigators examined its potential role in reducing myocardial ischemia, which reduces blood flow to the heart and can cause chest pain, heart attack, and heart failure.

They used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines to perform a systemic search of PubMed up to April 2022, using predefined search terms.

Investigators included 9 studies, but there were no quality randomized control trials for the use of CBD in acute or chronic coronary syndromes.

The results of the review found reproducible cardiovascular outcomes in in-vivo studies with CBD, with some mechanisms, including reduction of oxidative stress and inflammation.

“CBD also showed promising results in experimental models of ischemia and reperfusion lesion, myocardial infarction, arrhythmias and metabolic syndrome-like conditions,” Zúñiga Ayala said.

Preclinical evidence on CBD and its use in ischemic heart disease is robust enough to propose well-designed clinical trials in humans for coronary syndromes, according to investigators.

Patients should speak to a specialist on medical cannabis about CBD if they take any other medications, , Zúñiga Ayala said.

Additionally, physicians should keep in mind that CBD products are unreliable in purity and dosage, showing that some products contain less CBD than advertised. and tetrahydrocannabinol may also be found in these products, which is potentially harmful to individuals with heart disease, according to investigators.

Reference

As CBD use rises, clinical trials needed to determine safety, efficacy in heart disease patients. News release. EurekAlert. September 5, 2022. Accessed September 6, 2022. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/963558