A new study has revealed the potential of a cannabinoid-based dietary supplement, Pain ReliefTM, to significantly alleviate chronic pain and improve the quality of life in dogs suffering from osteoarthritis.
Conducted by researchers from Columbia University, the University of Naples Federico II, and the University of Milano, the study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Animals.
For the study, 21 adult crossbreed dogs with severe osteoarthrosis participated. Researchers compared the effects of Pain Pain ReliefTM, a cannabis-based medicine produced by Giantec in Italy, to a placebo.
Over 30 days, dogs receiving the supplement showed a significant reduction in pain levels, as indicated by the Helsinki Chronic Pain Index, and experienced notable improvements in oxidative stress markers. Inflammatory responses were also positively affected, with decreased interleukin-6 levels and increased interleukin-10 levels. Importantly, no adverse effects were reported.
Researchers conclude:
Based on the above results, we can conclude that Pain Relief may reduce pain perception in dogs, thereby enhancing their quality of life, even though the precise biochemical mechanism of its various ingredients is not fully understood. While each ingredient may influence individual inflammatory response and pain perception in dogs, the interactions among these compounds remain unclear.
Further studies are required to better understand the interactions among cannabinoids and between cannabinoids and other natural compounds with similar physiological effects and to learn more about the pharmacokinetics of natural products used in the treatment of chronic pain. Nonetheless, it is evident that these natural compounds hold significant potential as a key resource for future medicine.
The full text of the study can be found by clicking here.
