CBD and its benefits: What does the research say?

Few studies

As low tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) hemp products have become widely available and their use increasingly popular, interest in CBD has been growing too. However, veterinary science is still lacking substantial evidence-based research that would back up the anecdotal evidence of the benefits of CBD, with just a few research papers published that looked deeper into the efficacy of CBD in clinical conditions.

Nevertheless, the results look promising. It is important to note that cannabidiol oil derived from hemp should not contain THC, which is a psychoactive chemical.

How it works

To date, only three papers have proven positive outcomes in canine osteoarthritis and epilepsy, and just a few publications examined the pharmacokinetics of CBD. Research led by the team of Dr Joseph Wakshlag of Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, using a CBD and cannabidiolic acid mixture, has proven that cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) is both better absorbed and retained as compared to CBD, particularly when combined with a lecithin base. The most predominant cannabinoid found in hemp is CBDA that is converted to cannabidiol (CBD) during heat extraction.

CBD and CBDA extracts have a fascinating mechanism of action that takes place in the endocannabinoid system, which exists in all mammals. The endocannabinoid (EC) system is located in both excitatory and inhibitory synapses of all the classical neurotransmitter types throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems. The system is responsible for maintaining homeostasis, and still represents a widely unresearched field that is relatively newly discovered. CBD interacts with and activates the endocannabinoid system through various receptors in different organ systems.

Promising outcomes

CBD has a proven effect on osteoarthritis, inflammation reduction, epileptic seizures, anxiety control, and pain management. There are multiple chronic conditions in small animal veterinary medicine where CBD could exhibit beneficial effects and improve quality of life, such as inflammatory bowel disease.

Additionally, CBD has been studied in-vitro for its anti- neoplastic properties, alone and in combination with conventional therapies, exhibiting promising results. Nevertheless, we have to be patient, as the research is still ongoing.

Main concerns

As always, quality control seems to be the biggest pitfall in the area, with studies showing a wide variety in concentration among products on the market. Research has shown that the products analysed had highly variable concentrations of CBD or total cannabinoids.

Publications from Bonn-Miller et al. (2017) and Meng et al. (2018) examined cannabinoid concentrations in human over-the-counter products that showed a difference between labelling claims and analysis of the products. This disproportion can be explained through batch variation, improper labelling, and degradation of active ingredients, extraction techniques, and liability of laboratories conducting the quantification.

Therefore, veterinarians need to be more vigilant when it comes to CBD and THC concentrations in the products and should be asking for quality control proof that addresses potential contaminants: heavy metals and pesticides.