Efficacy of Cannabinoids in Improving Nutritional Outcomes in Chemotherapy Patients: A Scoping Review

Herbal cannabis has been utilized for thousands of years for its medicinal properties, including cardiovascular regulation, reproductive benefits, modulation of inflammation, and pain relief. Cannabinoids have also emerged as a therapeutic option for managing chemotherapy-related side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and loss of appetite. Understanding the unique responses of patients to chemotherapy and cannabinoids with respect to nutritional outcomes can refine oncological treatment protocols and significantly improve patients' quality of life. However, a preliminary search of MEDLINE and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews found no existing or ongoing systematic or scoping reviews on the use of cannabinoids for key nutritional indices such as appetite, weight, and side effect management in patients undergoing chemotherapy. This scoping review aimed to assess the relationship between cannabinoid use and the reduction of side effects in cancer patients undergoing treatment, with the aim of identifying a positive association with improved dietary intake and thus nutritional status. Nine peer-reviewed original research publications met the critical appraisal criteria for inclusion. Data relating to weight loss, appetite, nausea, vomiting, and reported quality of life were analyzed. The included studies evaluated several cannabinoid interventions. Two small studies reported improvements in appetite, with one also demonstrating significant weight gain, whereas most studies found no significant differences in these nutritional outcomes compared with placebo or standard treatments. Limitations included small sample sizes and high dropout rates. This review highlights the complex and variable role of cannabinoids in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Overall, the evidence for improving nutritional outcomes remains inconsistent, underscoring the need for more rigorous research to determine the optimal patient population, dosing regimens, and long-term safety of cannabinoids. Clinicians should continue to monitor emerging evidence and consider cannabinoid therapy on an individualized basis when managing chemotherapy-related symptoms.