CBD oil and osteoporosis

29 June 2022
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Osteoporosis is a very insidious disease; it is not felt or noticed until a bone fracture occurs, and not at all as a result of some severe trauma, but a simple, mundane fall. And it is already a myth that it only affects the elderly. Osteoporosis is increasingly being talked about as a disease of civilisation. So if we don't get tested for it, we just break down one day and find out that we have osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis - what it is, how it manifests itself and standard treatment

Osteoporosis is a disease of the skeletal system that is becoming quite common in the population. Studies say that it already affects 30% women and 8% men over the age of 50. People affected, although they do not feel it, gradually lose bone mass and their bones are therefore increasingly prone to fracture for any reason.

Osteoporosis is defined as primary osteoporosis, which is related to the ageing process of a person and their skeletal system. The second type is secondary osteoporosis, which is caused by medication or various diseases.

The causes of its occurrence vary widely. At increased risk are the elderly, slim people, women who have gone through the menopause before the age of 45 and those with oestrogen deficiency, men with low testosterone levels and people with diabetes, cystic fibrosis, kidney stones or Cushing's syndrome.

Risk factors for osteoporosis are advanced age, gender (female) and Caucasian race. But also low calcium intake, vitamin D deficiency, title smoking and excessive alcohol consumption and a sedentary lifestyle.

The problem with osteoporosis is that it may not show symptoms for many years, and when they do appear the stage of the disease is already advanced. By then, serious fractures of the femur, forearm bones, joints or vertebrae, for example, have already occurred.

Fractures of the vertebrae can be asymptomatic, one simply loses inches of height. Fractures, although fractured, lead to permanent pain of various kinds, located in different parts of the body. In the case of hip fractures, the patient may no longer be able to function independently. Then not only is the physical state of the patient poor, but the mental state becomes increasingly poor, eventually leading to depression.

In order to prevent osteoporosis from striking or, if it does, to prevent it from ravaging the skeletal system, it is important to take care of our bones. Take vitamin D, provide calcium in foods, keep fit and in shape, and watch your body. Excellent support is also CBD oil.

Osteoporosis treatment is all about protecting bones from fracture. There are medications that can be taken to strengthen the skeletal system. Of course, calcium and vitamin D supplementation. Plus a proper diet and, if necessary, lifestyle changes - no more stimulants. If you add cannabidiol to all this, then you can enjoy a fracture-free life for the rest of your life.

Osteoporosis and the endocannabinoid system

It is the most recently discovered system in the human body and is extremely important for the human body. This is because it controls all of the body's functions. For example, it is responsible for the biochemical balance of the human brain and internal organs. It is the guardian of homeostasis, i.e. keeping the organism in balance. The endocannabinoid system is a kind of information network, sending out signals that something is missing in the body, that something is not working properly. And this is thanks to the cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2), which are located throughout the body. Deficiencies in bone tissue are no different. Thanks to this entire network of receptors, the body is told how many of these defects there are and how much new bone tissue needs to be produced to make up for them.

Cannabidiol and osteoporosis

Hemp seeds contain more than 100 chemical compounds called cannabinoids. Among them is cannabidiol (CBD). And although extracted from hemp, it is not a psychoactive substance. That is why it is fully legal in Poland and allowed to be sold without a prescription. It has many health-promoting properties, one of which is its ability to support bone metabolism.

The human body produces endocannabinoids, while their counterparts are those found in cannabis, i.e. plant cannabinoids (phytocannabinoids).

Studies in mice have shown that CB2 receptors balance bone metabolism, which slows down natural age-related bone breakdown. And these receptors are found on the surface of all cells associated with bone-forming processes, causing an increase in bone strength and aiding bone regeneration processes.

And the bone-forming cells in question are osteoclasts (which dissolve bone), osteoblasts (which form bone) and osteocytes (their role is to exchange nutrients and metabolites in bone).

It is important to be aware that cannabidiol is not a cure for osteoporosis, while it has the ability to help treat the disease, but very importantly, it should be used in the prevention of osteoporosis.

When taken regularly, CBD can improve bone density, alleviate inflammation, improve sleep quality and is also able to alleviate pain, even that associated with fractures.

CBD oil and osteoporosis

CBD oil used for osteoporosis can affect not only the disease itself, but also the ailments associated with it.

As far as the disease itself is concerned, the results of the studies that have been conducted say that the use of CBD funnels can speed up bone fusion, but also strengthen them. This happens through the faster formation of osteoblasts, thanks to CBD intake.

On the other hand, the results of research into the effects of CBD on osteoclasts, i.e. bone-degrading cells, are extremely interesting. This is because they contain a receptor (GPR55) which, when activated, accelerates bone degeneration. CBD has the ability to block this receptor, thus reducing the activity of osteoclasts.

Other studies have shown that administration of cannabidiol after a bone fracture significantly accelerates bone fusion, while at the same time causing the bones to strengthen significantly. This is due to the stimulation of lysyl hydroxylase, an enzyme directly involved in bone fusion.

Another property of CBD oils is their analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Here, the research results are really promising. But also the feedback from patients using cannabidiol for pain relief is very positive. Therefore, CBD should be used in inflammatory conditions and while fractures are healing. CBD is becoming a real alternative to painkillers. It is not intoxicating, not addictive and has no significant side effects.

As you can see, it is worth including CBD oils into your diet. And it is best to do this before serious bone changes occur. When used prophylactically, cannabidiol can support your bones, so you may not develop the disease. However, it should be remembered that when using prescription drugs, the desire to take CBD oils should be consulted with a health care practitioner. Because, although CBD oils on their own may cause only minor side effects, when used with medicines, they can affect their absorption. There is a possibility that they will delay or accelerate this process.

Bibliography:

'Role of cannabinoids in the regulation of bone remodelling', by Aymen I. Idris, Stuart H. Ralston; 2012; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3499879/
"Cannabinoids and bone: endocannabinoids modulate human osteoclast function in vitro", authors L.S. Whyte, L. Ford, S.A. Ridge, G.A. Cameron, M.J. Rogers, R.A. Ross; 2012; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3423262/
"Cannabinoid Receptors as Target for Treatment of Osteoporosis: A Tale of Two Therapies", by Aymen I Idris; 2010; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3001217/
"Cannabidiol, a Major Non-Psychotropic Cannabis Constituent Enhances Fracture Healing and Stimulates Lysyl Hydroxylase Activity in Osteoblasts", authors Natalya M Kogan,Eitan Melamed,Elad Wasserman et al, 2015; https://asbmr.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jbmr.2513