Cannabinoid Therapeutic Effects in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors
by Antonio Vinci,Fabio Ingravalle,Dorian Bardhi,Nicola Cesaro,Sara Frassino,Francesca Licata and Marco Valvano
Published
September 29, 2022
Abstract
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) patients may benefit from cannabinoid administration supplementary therapy; currently no consensus on its effect has been reached. (2) Methods: a systematic review of RCTs on cannabinoid supplementation therapy in IBD has been conducted; data sources were MEDLINE, Scopus, ClinicalTrials. (3) Results: out of 974 papers found with electronic search, six studies have been included into the systematic review, and five of them, for a grand total of 208 patients, were included into the meta-analysis. (4) Conclusions: cannabinoid supplementation as adjuvant therapy may increase the chances of success for standard therapy of Crohn’s Disease during the induction period; no statement on its potential usage during maintenance period can be derived from retrieved evidence. Its usage in Ulcerative Colitis is not to be recommended. If ever, low-dose treatment may be more effective than higher dosage. Mean CDAI reduction was found stronger in patients treated with cannabinoids (mean CDAI reduction = 36.63, CI 95% 12.27–61.19) than placebo. In future studies, it is advisable to include disease activity levels, as well as patient-level information such as genetic and behavioral patterns.
Citations
Vinci, A., Ingravalle, F., Bardhi, D., Cesaro, N., Frassino, S., Licata, F., & Valvano, M. (2022). Cannabinoid therapeutic effects in inflammatory bowel diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Biomedicines, 10(10), 2439.