Can CBD really protect against COVID / Corona virus and boost immunity?

Cannabidiol may protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection

While the umpteenth corona wave is already rolling in on us, we at Ergo-Log continue to search for possible natural substances that protect against SARS-CoV-2. We found an interesting one in a preprint by molecular scientists at the University of Chicago. Cannabidiol, the active ingredient in numerous CBD supplements, has an antiviral effect.

In vitro-studie
The researchers exposed lung cells to the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and to two virus-inhibiting substances and CBD. In those experiments, CBD was also found to have a virus-inhibiting effect.

Exposure to CBD paid slightly more if it preceded infection with the virus than if exposure to CBD started after the cells came into contact with the coronavirus.

The researchers were able to show that CBD probably does not sabotage the entry of the virus into cells. You can see above how CBD might work. The researchers were able to show that CBD blocks replication of viral compounds.

The effective concentration of CBD in the in vitro studies is higher than the concentration that can occur in humans. However, the researchers were able to demonstrate that the CBD metabolite 7-hydroxy-CBD also has an antiviral effect – and 7-hydroxy-CBD does exist in relevant concentrations in the body of CBD users.

Epidemiological study | 1
The researchers analyzed data from more than 93,000 patients, collected by the University of Chicago Medical Center. In 10 percent of them, according to tests, there was evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

About 400 patients had used substances containing CBD, according to their records. In that subgroup, the percentage of those infected was 5.7 percent.

Epidemiological study | 2

In a sub-study, the researchers analyzed the data of 82 patients who used the pharmacological CBD preparation Epidiolex. In this way, the researchers overcame the problem that the concentration of CBD in supplements is often significantly lower than the manufacturer claims. [JAMA. 2017 Nov 7;318(17):1708-9.]

The percentage of those infected was 1 percent among Epidiolex users. The researchers formed a matched comparison group of patients who did not use CBD. In this group, the percentage of infected people was 12 percent

Conclusion
“Future studies to explore the optimal means of CBD delivery to patients along with clinical trials will be needed to fully test the promise of CBD as a therapeutic to block SARS-CoV-2 infection”, summarize the researchers.

“We advocate carefully designed placebo25 controlled clinical trials with known concentrations and highly-characterized formulations in order to define CBD’s role in preventing and treating early SARS-CoV-2 infection.”

“The necessary human in vivo concentration and optimal route and formulation remain to be defined.”

Source:
BioRxiv. 2021 Mar 10;2021.03.10.432967.