The Influence of Oral Cannabidiol on 24-h Ambulatory Blood Pressure and Arterial Stiffness in Untreated Hypertension: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Cross-Over Pilot Study

Introduction Studies reveal that cannabidiol may acutely reduce blood pressure and arterial stiffness in normotensive humans; however, it remains unknown if this holds true in patients with untreated hypertension. We aimed to extend these findings to examine the influence of the administration of cannabidiol on 24-h ambulatory blood pressure and arterial stiffness in hypertensive individuals. Methods Sixteen volunteers (eight females) with untreated hypertension (elevated blood pressure, stage 1, stage 2) were given oral cannabidiol (150 mg every 8 h) or placebo for 24 h in a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over study. Measures of 24-h ambulatory blood pressure and electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring and estimates of arterial stiffness and heart rate variability were obtained. Physical activity and sleep were also recorded. Results Although physical activity, sleep patterns and heart rate variability were comparable between groups, arterial stiffness (~ 0.7 m/s), systolic blood pressure (~ 5 mmHg), and mean arterial pressure (~ 3 mmHg) were all significantly ( P