London, United Kingdom: The oral administration of CBD results in “statistically significant reductions” in blood pressure, according to a review of clinical trial data published in the Journal of Cannabis Research.
British researchers evaluated the results of four randomized clinical trials involving 120 participants.
All four studies reported reductions in systolic blood pressure compared to placebo, while two of the studies also reported drops in diastolic pressure. The most significant reductions occurred in participants who consumed higher doses of CBD (up to 600 mg/day). Participants with and without hypertension experienced blood pressure modulation. No serious side effects were reported.
“This review of four human randomized controlled trials suggests that CBD may lower systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure, with the most consistent effects seen during stress and at high acute doses,” the study’s authors concluded. “Longitudinal studies of at least 12 months are needed to determine whether blood pressure–lowering effects are sustained over time, with longer follow-up required to assess attenuation and the need for dose adjustments. … Aside from oral administration, future studies should also evaluate alternative routes such as inhalation or sublingual dosing, which may differ in bioavailability.”
Full text of the study, “The effects of oral cannabinoid supplementation on blood pressure in adults: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials,” appears in the Journal of Cannabis Research. Additional information on cannabinoids and hypertension is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis and Cannabinoids.