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Bawa Z, McCartney D, Bedoya-Pérez M, Lau NS, Fox R, MacDougall H, McGregor IS. Effects of cannabidiol on psychosocial stress, situational anxiety and nausea in a virtual reality environment: a protocol for a single-centre randomised clinical trial. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e082927. [PMID: 38531572 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-082927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The non-intoxicating plant-derived cannabinoid, cannabidiol (CBD), has demonstrated therapeutic potential in a number of clinical conditions. Most successful clinical trials have used relatively high (≥300 mg) oral doses of CBD. Relatively few studies have investigated the efficacy of lower (<300 mg) oral doses, typical of those available in over-the-counter CBD products. METHODS We present a protocol for a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical trial investigating the effects of a low oral dose (150 mg) of CBD on acute psychosocial stress, situational anxiety, motion sickness and cybersickness in healthy individuals. Participants (n=74) will receive 150 mg of CBD or a matched placebo 90 min before completing three virtual reality (VR) challenges (tasks) designed to induce transient stress and motion sickness: (a) a 15 min 'Public Speaking' task; (b) a 5 min 'Walk the Plank' task (above a sheer drop); and (c) a 5 min 'Rollercoaster Ride' task. The primary outcomes will be self-reported stress and nausea measured on 100 mm Visual Analogue Scales. Secondary outcomes will include salivary cortisol concentrations, skin conductance, heart rate and vomiting episodes (if any). Statistical analyses will test the hypothesis that CBD reduces nausea and attenuates subjective, endocrine and physiological responses to stress compared with placebo. This study will indicate whether low-dose oral CBD has positive effects in reducing acute psychosocial stress, situational anxiety, motion sickness and cybersickness. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The University of Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee has granted approval (2023/307, version 1.6, 16 February 2024). Study findings will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal and at academic conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12623000872639).
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeeta Bawa
- The Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- The Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Pharmacy School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Danielle McCartney
- The Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- The Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Miguel Bedoya-Pérez
- The Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- The Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Namson S Lau
- The Boden Initiative, Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Richard Fox
- Yellow Dog Man Studios s.r.o, Ostrava-jih-Zábřeh, Czechia
| | - Hamish MacDougall
- RPA Institute of Academic Surgery, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Iain S McGregor
- The Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- The Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Balta I, Stef L, Pet I, Iancu T, Stef D, Corcionivoschi N. Essential Fatty Acids as Biomedicines in Cardiac Health. Biomedicines 2021; 9:1466. [PMID: 34680583 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9101466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The destructive impact of cardiovascular diseases on health, including heart failure, peripheral artery disease, atherosclerosis, stroke, and other cardiac pathological conditions, positions these health conditions as leading causes of increased global mortality rates, thereby impacting the human quality of life. The considerable changes in modern lifestyles, including the increase in food intake and the change in eating habits, will unavoidably lead to an unbalanced consumption of essential fatty acids, with a direct effect on cardiovascular health problems. In the last decade, essential fatty acids have become the main focus of scientific research in medical fields aiming to establish their impact for preventing cardiovascular diseases and the associated risk factors. Specifically, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), such as omega 3 fatty acids, and monounsaturated fatty acids from various sources are mentioned in the literature as having a cardio-protective role, due to various biological mechanisms that are still to be clarified. This review aims to describe the major biological mechanisms of how diets rich in essential fatty acids, or simply essential fatty acid administration, could have anti-inflammatory, vasodilatory, anti-arrhythmic, antithrombotic, antioxidant, and anti-atherogenic effects. This review describes findings originating from clinical studies in which dietary sources of FAs were tested for their role in mitigating the impact of heart disorders in human health.
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