As cannabidiol (CBD) use rises, high quality randomized clinical trials are needed to determine if anti-inflammatory benefits of CBD for cardiovascular disease seen in preclinical data will work in a real-world setting, according to research that will be presented during ACC Latin America 2022 Together with CardioAcademic in Mexico City. A review of existing studies found no clinical recommendations can be made given current evidence.

Due to the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD, the study sought to examine its potential role in reducing myocardial ischemia, heart failure and myocardial infarction. The researchers used the “Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis” guidelines to perform a systematic search of the PubMed database up to April 2022 using predefined search terms. Nine preclinical studies were included in the review, but no quality randomized control trials (RCTs) for the use of CBD in acute or chronic coronary syndromes were found.

A review of the nine preclinical studies found reproducible cardiovascular outcomes in in-vivo studies with CBD. Some of the mechanisms for the findings included reduction in oxidative stress and inflammation.

“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 side effects. But the interaction with other medications often used by cardiologists, such as anticoagulation and anti-platelet drugs, is not well-known,” said Mario Esteban Zúñiga Ayala, MD, the study’s primary author. “CBD also showed promising results in experimental models of ischemia and reperfusion lesion, myocardial infarction, arrhythmias and metabolic syndrome-like conditions,” Zúñiga Ayala explains.

According to the researchers, preclinical evidence on CBD and its use in ischemic heart disease is robust enough to propose well-designed clinical trials in humans in the setting of coronary syndromes. 

Learn more about ACC Latin America 2022 Together with CardioAcademic.

Clinical Topics: Anticoagulation Management, Arrhythmias and Clinical EP, Diabetes and Cardiometabolic Disease, Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathies, Invasive Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention, Prevention, Implantable Devices, SCD/Ventricular Arrhythmias, Atrial Fibrillation/Supraventricular Arrhythmias, Acute Heart Failure, Stress

Keywords: Immunoglobulin A, Pain, Nausea, Vomiting, Ischemia, Reperfusion, Inflammation, Heart Failure, Anticoagulants, Models, Theoretical, Myocardial Ischemia, Oxidative Stress, Epilepsy, Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Myocardial Infarction, Arrhythmias, Cardiac, Mexico, Metabolic Syndrome, Latin America, Cardiologists, Cachexia, Multiple Sclerosis, Cardiovascular Diseases, ACC International

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