A new study published in Frontiers in Pharmacology found that CBD reduced seizure frequency in 68% of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, with genetic differences possibly explaining why some do not respond.
Researchers in Mexico analyzed 47 pediatric and adult patients who had incorporated CBD into their treatment plans for at least six months. All patients were also taking anti-seizure medications. Among responders, seizures were reduced by more than 50%, though not eliminated. Adults were more likely to benefit than children, with 51% of responders being adults compared to 17% pediatric patients.
The study focused on genetic variants of CYP450 enzymes, which are responsible for metabolizing CBD. A key finding was that the CYP3A4 *1/rs2242480 genotype was present in 50% of non-responders, particularly among patients with focal seizures and structural lesions on brain imaging. In contrast, CYP2B6 variants (rs8192709 and rs8192719) were more common in patients who responded to CBD, especially those with epilepsy of unknown cause and normal imaging results.
While the sample size was small, the results suggest that certain genetic markers could influence how well CBD works in controlling seizures. The authors note that more research with larger populations is needed, but their findings highlight the importance of pharmacogenetics in tailoring epilepsy treatments.
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