Acute effects of THC and a CBD+THC combination on cardiovascular haemodynamics and respiratory muscle activity during loaded breathing in healthy adults: A randomized placebo-controlled crossover study
Edna Karla Ferreira Laurentino1,2, Marina Lyra L. C. Fagundes1,2, Bruno Lobão Soares3, Rodrigo Torres‐Castro4, Matias Otto‐Yañez5, Emerson Arcoverde Nunes6, Matheus Freitas Fernandes Pedrosa7, Jéssica Danielle Medeiros Fonsêca1,2, Vanessa R. Resqueti1,2, and Guilherme Augusto Freitas Fregonezi1,2
1 PneumoCardioVascular LAB/HUOL, Hospital
Universitário Onofre Lopes, Departamento de
Fisioterapia, Universidade Federal do Rio
Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
2 Laboratório de Inovaç˜ao Tecnológica em
Reabilitaç˜ao, Departamento de Fisioterapia,
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte,
Natal, Brazil
3 Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia,
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte
(DBF/UFRN), Natal, Brazil
4 Departamento de Kinesiología, Facultad de
Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
5 Grupo de Investigación en Salud,
Funcionalidad y Actividad Física (GISFAF),
Kinesiología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud,
Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago,
Chile
6 Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes,
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte,
Natal, Brazil
7 Laboratório de Tecnologia e Biotecnologia
Farmacêutica (Tecbiofar), Faculdade de
Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande
do Norte, Natal, Brazil
Affiliationer
Abstract
Aims
This study aimed to evaluate the acute effects of cannabidiol plus tetrahydrocannabinol (CBD+THC) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) oils on cardiovascular haemodynamics, respiratory muscle activity and peripheral tissue perfusion in healthy adults.
Methods
In this randomized, double-blind, crossover trial, participants received orally administered CBD+THC oil (12.5 mg + 12.5 mg), THC oil (12.5 mg) or placebo. Cardiovascular haemodynamics, respiratory muscle electromyography and peripheral tissue perfusion were evaluated during breathing tasks.
Results
Eighteen individuals were evaluated (26 ± 5 years). Both oils significantly increased heart rate (HR) (p < 0.05). Cardiac index significantly increased in I-THC at 60 and 150 min postdose (p < 0.05). The vascular resistance index was lower in the I-THC, with significant differences during respiratory overload and recovery (p < 0.05). A significant increase in activity of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and parasternal (PARA) muscles was observed in the I-THC during inspiratory loading at 60 and 150 min after dose (p < 0.05). In the I-CBD+THC, increased activation was observed in the scalene (ESC) and PARA muscles (p ≤ 0.021). HHb levels showed a descriptive decrease, particularly during inspiratory loading and recovery in the I-THC group, without reaching statistical significance, whereas O2Hb showed a significant increase during inspiratory loading in the I-THC group (p < 0.05).
Conclusions
Acute administration of THC and CBD+THC oils induced distinct cardiorespiratory responses in healthy individuals, affecting cardiovascular haemodynamics, respiratory muscle activation and peripheral tissue oxygenation. THC produced more pronounced physiological responses, while CBD+THC was associated with a more attenuated pattern.
