Well-designed clinical trials to test the safety and efficacy of cannabidiol (CBD) for cardiovascular disease are needed, based on evidence from preclinical studies showing that it has anti-inflammatory effects, a new report suggests.
The systematic review of nine preclinical studies found reproducible positive cardiovascular outcomes in in vivo models with CBD. Mechanisms for the findings included reduction in oxidative stress and inflammation.
“CBD worked very well in all the experimental models, compared to placebo,” lead author Mario Zúñiga, MD, a cardiology fellow at Hospital Regional 1º de Octubre Issste in Mexico City, Mexico, told theheart.org | Medscape Cardiology.
“It seems CBD has true potential in the setting of myocardial infarction, reperfusion, arrhythmias and metabolic syndrome-like conditions,” Zúñiga said.
He presented his study in a poster session at ACC Latin America 2022 Together With CardioAcademic, which was held in Mexico City.
“Cannabidiol and medical cannabis use, alongside its many products, has increased considerably in the last decade, but there are few indications for its use based on good clinical trials,” he said.
“Here, we sought to provide preclinical evidence, which ultimately serves as the cornerstone to establishing well-designed clinical trials in humans, to prove the effect on CBD on…