Cannabidiol for Functional Dyspepsia With Normal Gastric Emptying: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Pharmacology
• Genetics

Background:

• Functional dyspepsia (FD) affects gut motility and sensation.
• Cannabidiol (CBD) interacts with cannabinoid receptors (CB1/CB2).
• Genetic variations in CNR1 and FAAH may influence gut function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effects of pharmaceutical-grade CBD versus placebo in patients with FD.
• To assess CBD's impact on gastric emptying, gastric volumes, and satiation.
• To investigate gene-drug interactions between CBD and FAAH/CNR1 variants.

Main Methods:

• Randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.
• 4-week treatment with CBD (20 mg/kg/d) or placebo in FD patients.
• Assessment of symptoms, gastric emptying, and satiation, with analysis of CNR1 rs806378 and FAAH rs324420 variants.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in physiological functions or patient outcomes between CBD and placebo groups.
• Borderline interactions observed between CBD treatment and CNR1 rs806378 genotype for postprandial distress and gastric emptying.
• CBD did not alter gastric motor functions or satiation in FD patients with normal baseline gastric emptying.

Conclusions:

• Approved doses of CBD are not effective for FD with normal gastric emptying.
• CBD treatment-by-gene interactions suggest potential benefits for postprandial distress in specific genotypes (CNR1 rs806378 T allele).
• Further research is needed to explore the role of genetic variations in CBD's efficacy for FD.