Cannabidiol in sport: Ergogenic or else?. (June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gamelin, François-Xavier; Cuvelier, Gregory; Mendes, Antoine; Aucouturier, Julien; Berthoin, Serge; Di Marzo, Vincenzo; Heyman, Elsa
• Is Part Of: Pharmacological research. Volume 156(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-06
• Subjects: 2-AG 2-arachidonylglycérol -- 5-HT1A Serotonin 1A receptor -- Aβ Beta amyloid -- AEA Anadamide -- Δ9-THC Delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol -- CB1 Cannabinoid receptor 1 -- CB2 Cannabinoid receptor 2 -- CBD Cannabidiol -- CTE Chronic traumatic encephalopathy -- DOMS Delayed onset muscle soreness -- FAAH fatty acid amide hydrolase -- GDNF Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor -- NO Nitric oxide -- NFT Neurofibrillary tangles -- NGF Nerve growth factor -- mTBI Mild traumatic brain injury -- PGE 2 Prostaglandin E2 -- PPARγ Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ -- TRPV1 Transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 -- WADA World Anti-Doping Agency; Anxiolytic -- Cannabidiol -- Cannabis -- Doping -- Neuroprotective -- Sleep-wake cycle; Pharmacology -- Periodicals; Pharmacology -- Periodicals; Research -- Periodicals; Médicaments -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Pharmacologie -- Périodiques; 615.105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104764
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-6618

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Athletes could benefit from CBD to manage pain, inflammation and the swelling processes associated with injury. CBD could be useful to manage anxiety, fear memory process, sleep and sleepiness in athletes. CBD could be interesting for the management of mild traumatic brain injury and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. CBD use still seems premature in view of the scarcity of specific clinical studies and the legislative gaps in the regulation of its use. Abstract: In the sports domain, cannabis is prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) across all sports in competition since 2004. The few studies on physical exercise and cannabis focused on the main compound i.e. Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Cannabidiol (CBD) is another well-known phytocannabinoid present in dried or heated preparations of cannabis. Unlike Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, CBD is non-intoxicating but exhibits pharmacological properties that are interesting for medical use. The worldwide regulatory status of CBD is complex and this compound is still a controlled substance in many countries. Interestingly, however, the World Anti-Doping Agency removed CBD from the list of prohibited substances – in or out of competition - since 2018. This recent decision by the WADA leaves the door open for CBD use by athletes. In the present opinion article we wish to expose the different CBD properties discovered in preclinical studies that could be further tested in the sport domain to ascertain its utility. Preclinical studies suggest that CBD could be useful to athletes due to its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anxiolytic, neuroprotective properties and its influence on the sleep-wake cycle. Unfortunately, almost no clinical data are available on CBD in the context of exercise, which makes its use in this context still premature.