CBD shows early potential to treat heart disease
Cannabidiol (CBD) could potentially play a helpful role in the management of patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to a new report published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.[1] It is still early, however, and much more research is necessary.
CBD is a chemical compound derived from cannabis. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the cannabis-derived substance associated with psychoactive properties, CBD has been linked to certain anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties that may help protect a person’s heart and cardiovascular system.
As the authors of this report explained, current evidence suggests CBD could help manage a variety of CVD subtypes.
CBD and pericarditis
“Recurrent pericarditis presents an ongoing therapeutic challenge for clinicians, particularly in cases where patients do not respond to triple therapy, which includes steroids,” wrote first author Hesham Abdalla, MBBS, a researcher with the department of medicine at Mayo Clinic, and colleagues. “The potent anti-inflammatory effects of CBD have led to its consideration as a potential therapeutic agent for this condition.”
Abdalla et al. noted that at least one pure CBD solution, CardiolRx from Cardiol Therapeutics, has already been studied as a potential treatment option for recurrent pericarditis. While the product was linked to an early positive impact, “several clinical challenges” remain and clinical research is still ongoing.
“There remains a clinical need for an accessible and nonimmunosuppressive therapeutic option for the management of pericarditis,” the authors wrote. “If efficacy is established in presently ongoing trials, subsequent multicenter randomized clinical studies and surveillance initiatives will be essential to further evaluate the safety of CBD, optimal dosing and long-term outcomes to support its integration into clinical practice.”
CBD and myocarditis
Animal studies have linked CBD with considerable benefits when it comes to treating myocarditis. Research is currently underway to determine if this impact carries over to human subjects as well. That study, ARCHER, is the first randomized study to evaluate CBD as a myocarditis treatment. CardiolRx is at the heart of that study as well.
CBD and heart failure/cardiomyopathy
“The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of CBD have prompted numerous studies investigating its therapeutic potential across different forms of cardiomyopathy,” the authors wrote, and many of those studies have focused on diabetic cardiomyopathy.
However, there is still a lack of clinical trials that specifically explore this topic in human subjects. As “promising” as some data have been, it is too early to know if CBD will ultimately prove to be a successful heart failure or cardiomyopathy therapy.
“Further research is also needed to identify the specific forms of cardiomyopathy that may benefit most from CBD therapy, as its efficacy is likely based on their distinct underlying pathophysiological mechanisms,” the group added.
CBD and cardiac arrhythmias
Abdalla and colleagues emphasized that there are some concerns about CBD potentially increasing a person’s risk of experiencing a cardiac arrhythmia. These fears are largely based on multiple animal studies.
On the other hand, “some studies indicate that CBD may instead possess anti-arrhythmic effects.” At this point, the group concluded, the evidence “remains limited and inconsistent.”
CBD and ischemic heart disease
“Ischemic heart disease is characterized by an inadequate supply of blood and oxygen to the myocardium due to atherosclerotic plaque buildup in the coronary arteries,” the authors wrote. “Although early revascularization is crucial for myocardial salvage, tissue damage may be exacerbated by the abrupt restoration of blood flow, a phenomenon known as myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Several mechanisms contribute to this effect, including increased reactive oxygen species generation, inflammation, calcium overload and endothelial dysfunction.”
There is a belief among researchers that CBD could prove to be an effective treatment for mitigating myocardial I/R injury. Could there be a time when care teams are prescribing CBD after heart attacks? Again, more research is required, but the idea “warrants consideration,” the group noted.
CBD and hypertension
Over the years, CBD has been linked to a “favorable, albeit modest” reduction in blood pressure levels. In addition, one smaller study identified reductions in mean arterial pressure, diastolic pressure, total peripheral vascular resistance and stroke volume among patients given a single large dose of CBD.
“Whether these effects are substantial enough to yield clinically significant cardiovascular benefits remains unclear,” the authors wrote. “Given the potential contribution of anxiolytic mechanisms, the modest blood-pressure effects observed to date cannot be ascribed to direct vascular actions, underscoring the need for mechanistic endpoints in future trials.”
Potential adverse effects of treating cardiovascular disease with CBD
Previous research has found that oral CBD solutions may increase a person’s risk of liver injuries. More minor side effects such as diarrhea, nausea and headaches have also been reported in the past.
Are these issues a significant concern? The researchers repeated a common refrain: additional research is necessary to learn more.
Ongoing and proposed studies
“Although human clinical trials remain limited, the outcomes of several ongoing and proposed studies will be instrumental in validating the efficacy and clinical applicability of CBD,” the authors concluded. “If proven effective, several challenges must be addressed, including ethical and regulatory considerations, as well as a comprehensive assessment of potential adverse effects and drug interactions. Future research should prioritize large-scale randomized controlled trials with standardized formulations, which may potentially establish CBD as a novel adjunct in cardiovascular therapy.”
Click here to read the full report.
Michael has more than 19 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.