A clinical trial published in Biomedical Papers of the Medical Faculty of the University Palacky, Olomouc, Czech Republic, found that rectal suppositories containing cannabidiol (CBD) and hyaluronic acid (HA) were associated with symptom improvements in men diagnosed with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis, also known as chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS).

The pilot study involved 16 men between the ages of 24 and 49 who had moderate to severe symptoms, defined as a National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) score above 10 and a pain subscore of at least 4. Participants self-administered CANNEFF® suppositories containing 100 milligrams of CBD and 6.6 milligrams of HA nightly for 30 days.

Researchers reported that the median NIH-CPSI total score fell from 24.5 at baseline to 20.0 after 30 days, a statistically significant reduction (P=0.003). The median reduction in score was 7 points, and 81.3% of participants experienced overall symptom improvement.

Urinary symptoms also improved. The median International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) dropped from 14.0 to 12.0 (P=0.033), with the most notable changes observed in voiding-related symptoms. Erectile function, measured using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5), increased slightly, though the change was not statistically significant.

No adverse events were reported during the 30-day treatment period.

While the trial was small and lacked a placebo control group, the authors concluded that rectal administration of a CBD/HA combination demonstrated potential for symptom relief in men with CP/CPPS, warranting further study in larger, controlled trials.