A new peer-reviewed clinical trial conducted by researchers at Tel Aviv University and Reichman University found that sublingual cannabidiol (CBD) may improve clinical outcomes in patients infected with COVID-19.
Published in The Israel Medical Association Journal, the double-blind, placebo-controlled study included 10 participants who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Seven patients received CBD extract administered sublingually, while three received a placebo.
Researchers monitored both clinical responses and inflammatory cytokine levels, which are known to play a significant role in the severity of COVID-19 symptoms.
Patients in the CBD group experienced better overall outcomes than those in the placebo group. However, the study noted that while differences in serum cytokine levels were observed between the two groups, the results showed mixed patterns and did not provide a clear correlation.
The researchers concluded that while CBD may offer some clinical benefit to patients with SARS-CoV-2, the mechanisms remain unclear and additional research is needed to understand its full potential.
“Patients presenting with SARS-CoV-2 and receiving CBD sublingually had better outcomes than those receiving a placebo, although these results did not reflect in selected serum cytokines”, concludes researchers, who note that “Further study is needed.”
