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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04731779

Cannabidiol and Autonomic Function at Rest

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of 700 chemicals derived from the Cannabis sativa plant and is both legal and widespread for distribution in the state of Vermont. The central hypothesis of this proposal is that in apparently healthy adults, acute CBD favorably affects the autonomic nervous system and that this will be evident by an increase in heart rate variability. The overall goal is to understand how CBD affects the autonomic and cardiovascular systems at rest, and when perturbed. The investigators will study a narrow age range of adults, administer varying acute doses of CBD, characterize baseline cardiovascular variables, and record responses to autonomic challenge maneuvers. This will provide the framework to assess potential therapies and/or risk factors of CBD, particularly as it relates to healthy individuals. More information that is so widely taken, especially one that targets receptors known to be involved in cardiovascular signaling pathways is imperative.

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Key information

Conditions

Healthy

Age range

18 year–35 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Early Phase 1

Primary location

Castleton University, Jeffords Science Building

Castleton, Vermont, 05735, United States

About this study

The study will be conducted in the Exercise Physiology Laboratory in the Jeffords Science Building at Castleton University. Participants will be asked to fast overnight, avoid beverages or food containing caffeine, alcohol, or CBD for at least 12h, and to not perform physical effort for 6h prior to each session.

During the initial session, individuals will: have their height and body mass measured, complete a health history questionnaire, and sign a consent form approved by Castleton University's Institutional Review Board. Prior to data collection, individuals will be advised of the possible risks, methods, and potential benefits of this study. They will also be familiarized with the noninvasive cardiovascular monitoring equipment, which they will be putting on themselves. These include an automated blood pressure (BP) cuff and a heart rate (HR) chest strap monitor.

On the day of each experiment, participants will be given a standardized meal and asked to put on the BP cuff and HR monitor. Individuals will remain seated for the length of the experiment (doing nothing or reading). Baseline measurements will be taken remotely following 15 minutes of rest. Under supervision, participants will be asked to consume oral CBD oil (0mg, 25 mg, 50 mg, or 200mg), infused in non-CBD containing MCT (medium-chain triglycerides) oil to standardize dose volume of 3ml. Assessments will be measured remotely at intervals up to 2.5 hours after ingestion. The study will be double-blind, thus neither the participant nor researcher will be aware of the CBD dose for a particular session. Participants will be asked to return for 3 additional consecutive weeks, each session will be a different dose of CBD.

In the final experimental session (to be completed after initial analyses of dose responses), participants will be given a standardized meal and asked to put on the blood pressure cuff and HR monitors. Individuals will remain seated for the length of the experiment. Following 15 minutes of rest, participants will be asked to perform two autonomic stress tests: the isometric hand grip test, and the cold face test. First, the maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) for the isometric hand grip test will be assessed. Participants will be asked to press a handgrip dynamometer with full strength. To perform the isometric handgrip test, participants will again use the dynamometer and maintain handgrip at 30 percent MVC for 2 min. A recovery period of 10 minutes between each test will be observed. For the cold face test, a cold compress (1-2 degrees Celcius) will be applied to the forehead and maxillary region of the subjections face for 2 min. Following these baseline tests, participants will be asked to consume a dose of CBD (determined following analyses of the initial 4 sessions) and perform the two autonomic stress tests again 2h post ingestion.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Male or female, 18-35 years of age.
  • Participants must agree to fast and abstain from food or beverages containing alcohol, caffeine, or CBD for 12 hours prior to each experimental session.
  • Completion of Health History Questionnaire with report indicating overall good health.
  • The ability to comprehend and satisfactorily comply with protocol requirements.
  • Written informed consent given prior to beginning the study.

Exclusion criteria

  • Current medications that might influence the cardiovascular and/or autonomic systems.
  • Women who are pregnant or lactating.
  • Participants who have a history of adverse reactions to cannabidiol will be excluded.

Treatment and study plan

Cannabidiol

Drug

Cannabidiol oral product formulated in MCT (medium chain triglyceride) oil

Other names: CBD

Placebo

Drug

Placebo oral product formulated in MCT (medium chain triglyceride) oil

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in heart rate variability (HRV) as assessed by time-domain analysis: standard deviation of RR intervals.

    Time frame: 4 weeks

    Time-domain measurements quantify the amount of variability of the heart's interbeat (RR) intervals and include the metric: standard deviation of RR intervals (SDNN). Higher values indicate greater HRV.

  2. Change in heart rate variability (HRV) as assessed by time-domain analysis: root mean square of successive differences.

    Time frame: 4 weeks

    Time-domain measurements quantify the amount of variability of the heart's interbeat (RR) intervals and include the metric: root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD). Higher values indicate greater HRV.

  3. Change in heart rate variability (HRV) as assessed by frequency-domain analysis: high-frequency (HF).

    Time frame: 4 weeks

    Frequency-domain measurements estimate the distribution of absolute or relative power into four heart rate oscillation frequency bands: ultra-low-frequency (ULF), very-low-frequency (VLF), low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF). A high HF reflects parasympathetic dominance.

  4. Change in heart rate variability (HRV) as assessed by frequency-domain analysis: low-frequency (LF).

    Time frame: 4 weeks

    Frequency-domain measurements estimate the distribution of absolute or relative power into four heart rate oscillation frequency bands: ultra-low-frequency (ULF), very-low-frequency (VLF), low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF). LF reflects both sympathetic and parasympathetic activity.

  5. Change in heart rate variability (HRV) as assessed by frequency-domain analysis: LF/HF ratio.

    Time frame: 4 weeks

    A low LF/HF ratio reflects parasympathetic dominance, whereas a high LF/HF ratio reflects sympathetic dominance.

  6. Change in magnitude of autonomic stress test responses as assessed by changes in blood pressure.

    Time frame: 1 day

    Responses to autonomic stress test include a change in blood pressure if sympathetic outflow is activated. The magnitude of change will be compared before and after CBD ingestion.

  7. Change in magnitude of autonomic stress test responses as assessed by changes in heart rate.

    Time frame: 1 day

    Responses to autonomic stress test include a change in heart rate if parasympathetic outflow is activated. The magnitude of change will be compared before and after CBD ingestion.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Castleton University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Cannabidiol and Autonomic Function in Individuals at Rest

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2021
Study completion
2021
First posted
Feb 1, 2021
Registry last updated
May 15, 2023

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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