Efficacy and Safety of Cannabidiol and Tetrahydrocannabivarin on Glycemic and Lipid Parameters in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Group Pilot Study

Summary & key facts

This small, 13-week randomized trial tested cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) in 62 people with type 2 diabetes who were not on insulin. THCV (5 mg twice daily) lowered fasting blood glucose versus placebo and produced several changes in markers related to insulin production, adipokines, and apolipoprotein A, while CBD showed a couple of changes versus baseline only. The study was short and small, and the authors say THCV could be worth testing further as a treatment for blood sugar control.

Key facts:

• The trial randomized 62 adults with non‑insulin treated type 2 diabetes to five arms for 13 weeks: CBD 100 mg twice daily; THCV 5 mg twice daily; CBD+THCV 5/5 mg twice daily; CBD+THCV 100/5 mg twice daily; or placebo.
• THCV versus placebo significantly lowered fasting plasma glucose with an estimated treatment difference (ETD) of -1.2 mmol/L (P < 0.05).
• THCV produced a statistically significant change in a measure of pancreatic β‑cell function (HOMA2 β; ETD = -44.51 points; P < 0.01), which the authors report as an improvement.
• THCV also produced significant changes in adiponectin (ETD = -5.9 × 10^6 pg/mL; P < 0.01) and apolipoprotein A (ETD = -6.02 μmol/L; P < 0.05), but plasma HDL cholesterol was not changed by THCV.
• CBD, compared with baseline but not versus placebo, decreased resistin by 898 pg/mL (P < 0.05) and increased glucose‑dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) by 21.9 pg/mL (P < 0.05).
• None of the combination CBD+THCV treatments produced significant effects on the measured outcomes.
• CBD and THCV were reported as well tolerated over the 13 weeks in this pilot study.
• This was a small, short pilot trial (62 people, 13 weeks). The findings are preliminary and the authors state THCV could be tested further, but larger and longer studies are needed to confirm benefit and safety.

Abstract

THCV could represent a new therapeutic agent in glycemic control in subjects with type 2 diabetes.

Topics

Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research Diet, Metabolism, and Disease Pancreatic function and diabetes

Categories

Health Sciences Medicine Pharmacology

Tags

Adiponectin Alternative medicine Diabetes mellitus Endocrinology Glycemic Insulin Insulin resistance Internal medicine Lipid profile Medicine Pathology Placebo Type 2 diabetes

Substances

Cannabis Other

Conditions & symptoms

Poor appetite or overeating