According to a new clinical trial “chronic administration of CBD reduces ambulatory blood pressure in those with untreated and treated hypertension”.
The study was published in the recent issue of the peer-reviewed journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, and it was published online ahead of print by the US National Library of Medicine.
“Recent data indicate that cannabidiol (CBD), a nonintoxicating constituent of cannabis, is involved in several aspects of cardiovascular regulation, including blood pressure (BP)”, begins the study’s abstract.
“However, the impact of chronic CBD administration on 24-h BP and vascular health has not been previously examined in patients with hypertension.”
With that in mind, the primary aim of this “randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled, and crossover study was to examine the influence of chronic CBD on 24-h ambulatory BP and arterial stiffness in hypertensive patients.”
For the study 70 patients with mild or moderate primary hypertension, who were untreated or receiving standard of care therapy, were randomly assigned to receive either five weeks of oral CBD or placebo-matched controls. Following a >2-week washout period, patients were crossed over to alternate therapy. The primary outcome of the study was dynamic in 24-h ambulatory BP and was assessed using two-way repeated measure analysis of variance.
“Administration of CBD reduced average 24 h mean, systolic, and diastolic BP after 2.5 weeks (-3.22±0.90 mmHg [95% confidence interval -1.01 to -5.44 mmHg], -4.76±1.24 mmHg [-1.72 to -7.80 mmHg], and -2.25±0.80 mmHg [-0.30 to -6.01 mmHg], respectively (all p<0.05)”, states the study. These values “largely remained stable following the uptitration of CBD dosing.”
Researchers found that there “were no changes in liver enzymes or serious adverse events (AEs). There was no significant difference in pulse wave velocity (group×factor interaction: F=1.50, p=0.226) at different time points, regardless of the intervention arm.”
Researchers conclude:
In conclusion, chronic administration of CBD reduces ambulatory BP in those with untreated and treated hypertension. In addition, lack of serious AEs implies safety and tolerability of the above-noted CBD formulation. ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05346562, Registered April 6th 2022.
