Study: Low-Dose CBD Found Safe for People With HIV on Long-Term Antiretroviral Therapy, With Potentially Beneficial Physiological Changes
- Low doses of full-spectrum CBD oil were found to be safe for people living with HIV on long-term antiretroviral therapy, with no significant adverse effects on liver, kidney function, or HIV-related biomarkers.
- The 12-week double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involved 80 participants with virologically suppressed HIV, who received either CBD oil at 1 mg/kg twice daily or a placebo.
- Researchers observed a reduction in total bilirubin levels in the CBD group and a significant decrease in heart rate among men, with no similar effect seen in women.
- While the study confirms CBD's good tolerability, the authors emphasize that the physiological changes noted are preliminary and warrant further investigation into CBD's therapeutic potential for chronic inflammation in HIV patients.
A clinical trial published in Cannabis & Cannabinoid Research found that low doses of CBD appear safe for people living with HIV who are on long-term antiretroviral therapy, with researchers also noting some potentially beneficial physiological changes.
Researchers from Université d’Orléans and Centre Hospitalier Universitaire d’Orléans conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 80 participants with virologically suppressed HIV. The group had a median age of 54 and had been on effective treatment for roughly 14 years. Participants were given either a full-spectrum CBD oil (containing less than 0.3% THC) at a dose of 1 mg/kg twice daily or a placebo over a 12-week period, followed by four weeks of monitoring.
The study focused on safety outcomes, including cardiovascular measurements, liver and kidney function, and HIV-related biomarkers.
According to the study’s findings, “No clinically meaningful differences emerged in creatinine, aminotransferases… or conjugated bilirubin.” Researchers also found that CBD did not impact viral load, HIV-DNA levels, or the CD4/CD8 ratio, indicating no disruption to HIV disease control.
One notable difference was a reduction in total bilirubin levels in the CBD group compared to placebo. In addition, an exploratory analysis found that men in the CBD group experienced a decrease in heart rate beginning at week 12 and continuing through follow-up. The study reports a reduction of around 8 beats per minute in men, with no similar effect observed in women.
The authors conclude that “Low-dose full-spectrum GMP-certified CBD was well tolerated over 12 weeks in virally suppressed people with HIV,” while emphasizing that the observed reductions in bilirubin and heart rate are preliminary and require further research.
The findings add to a growing body of research suggesting cannabidiol (CBD) may offer therapeutic benefits beyond its established uses, particularly in populations dealing with chronic inflammation.