RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Studying the Effects of Cannabis on Vasculature

This study aims to understand how using cannabis regularly might affect your heart and blood vessels. While cannabis is widely used, its long-term impact on the cardiovascular system isn't fully clear. Researchers believe cannabis might cause harm by increasing inflammation in the body. They will test this by looking at blood vessel health using a simple, painless test and by checking blood samples for signs of inflammation. The study will involve people who use cannabis often and a group who don't, to compare the results. This important research will help us learn more about the potential long-term effects of cannabis on heart and blood vessel health.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's

Enrolment target

100

Start

01 Dec 2023

Estimated completion

30 Dec 2025

Cardiovascular Diseases Inflammation Atherosclerosis

What is this study about?

This study is about understanding how using cannabis might affect your heart and blood vessels, especially over a long time. Many people use cannabis, but doctors and scientists don't fully know what long-term effects it has on the cardiovascular system – that's your heart and all the tubes (blood vessels) that carry blood around your body. Some early studies, done with cells in a lab or with small animals, have suggested that cannabis could be harmful to these systems. Because cannabis use is becoming more common, it's really important to find out if it has effects on people's hearts and blood vessels that might only show up after many years.

The researchers in this study want to investigate this by looking at two main things. First, they will use a simple, non-invasive (meaning it doesn't break the skin) test to check how well a person's blood vessels are working. This can give clues about their overall heart health. Secondly, they will take blood samples to look for signs of 'inflammation'. Inflammation is your body's natural response to injury or infection, but long-term inflammation can be bad for your heart and blood vessels. The researchers think that cannabis might cause this kind of inflammation.

To get a clearer picture, they will compare people who use cannabis regularly with a group of people who don't use cannabis. This comparison group helps them understand what changes might be linked specifically to cannabis use. The study also aims to see if the way cannabis is used (smoking or vaping) makes a difference, and if there are immediate effects after using cannabis. All this information will help us understand the long-term impact of cannabis on heart health and could help people make more informed decisions about its use.

Key takeaways

This study investigates cannabis's long-term effects on heart and blood vessels.
It aims to understand if cannabis causes inflammation and damages blood vessels.
Compares regular cannabis users with non-users.
Uses simple tests for blood vessel health and blood samples for inflammation.
Aims to provide important information for public health.

Who may be eligible?

To join this study, we're looking for adults between the ages of 19 and 80, both men and women, and from all ethnic backgrounds.

There are two main groups for the study. One group will be people who use cannabis fairly regularly – at least 3 or 4 times a week for the last six months or more. The other group will be people who don't use cannabis at all. Everyone joining must not have a history of heart or blood vessel disease.

There are some reasons you couldn't take part. If you solely use cannabis products that contain CBD (cannabidiol) or can't show proof of the cannabis products you use, this study might not be for you. Also, you'd need to be willing to avoid eating soy products (like tofu or soy milk) or genistein for two days before your appointments. Your study doctor can tell you more if you have questions about these details.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you between 19 and 80 years old?
Do you use cannabis at least 3-4 times a week, or not at all?
Have you ever had heart or blood vessel problems?
Are you able to avoid soy products for 48 hours before appointments?
Can you provide receipts for your cannabis products (if you use cannabis)?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

Taking part in this study would involve several visits to the clinic for assessments. For people who use cannabis, some visits might involve tests performed soon after cannabis use to see immediate effects. You would undergo a non-invasive test to measure your blood vessel function, which is a simple, painless procedure. Blood samples would also be taken to check for signs of inflammation. If you are part of the cannabis-using group, you will need to keep receipts for your cannabis products for verification. Additionally, you would be asked to temporarily adjust your diet by not consuming soy products or genistein for 48 hours before any appointments. The total duration of your involvement in the study would be discussed with you by the research team.

Potential risks and benefits

By taking part, you could contribute valuable information that helps us better understand the effects of cannabis on heart health, potentially benefiting others in the future. However, there are no direct medical benefits to you personally from joining this study. As with any study, there might be some minor risks, such as discomfort from blood draws. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

London Regional Health Science Centre
Verified postcode
London, Canada· Recruiting

Common questions

What is 'vascular function'?

Vascular function refers to how well your blood vessels are working. Healthy blood vessels are flexible and can widen and narrow properly to control blood flow.

What is 'inflammation'?

Inflammation is your body's natural way of dealing with injury or infection. However, long-term or uncontrolled inflammation can be harmful to your body, including your heart and blood vessels.

Will I have to stop using cannabis if I join?

The study is looking at chronic cannabis users, so you usually wouldn't be asked to stop using it as part of the study. However, you might be asked to provide details about your cannabis use.

What is a 'non-invasive test'?

A non-invasive test means that no needles or cuts are used. It's a gentle way to check something inside your body, like feeling your pulse or using an ultrasound machine.

What does a 'control group' mean?

A control group is a group of participants who do not receive the treatment or intervention being studied (in this case, they don't use cannabis). They help researchers compare and see what effects might be due to the cannabis itself.

How to find out more

Mark Chandy, MD, PhD

mark.chandy@lhsc.on.ca 5196612111 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.