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Cannabis compounds including CBD may reduce the risk of alcohol-related liver disease, according to the results of a recent study. The study, conducted by researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University and VCU Health, was published in October in the peer-reviewed, open-access journal Liver International. The study’s findings were also presented at the annual conference of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases in Denver in November.
To complete the study, the researchers analyzed the medical records of more than 66,000 U.S. adults with alcohol use disorder (AUD). The data showed that those with AUD who also used cannabis were less likely to develop alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) than those who did not use products derived from cannabis or hemp. The researchers noted that ALD is a serious medical condition that has limited therapies available.
CBD and the Endocannabinoid System
Cannabidiol (CBD) has been shown to interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which helps regulate a wide range of physiological processes. The endocannabinoid system is also related to liver health and can influence how the body processes fat and responds to injury.
“Although cannabidiol has shown promise in experimental studies for reducing alcohol-related liver injury, its clinical use remains limited,” the researchers wrote. “To address this gap, we evaluated whether cannabis use is associated with a reduced risk of ALD among individuals with alcohol use disorder.”
The researchers selected participants who were all diagnosed with alcohol use disorder between 2010 and 2022. The researchers then divided the participants into three groups: those diagnosed with cannabis use disorder, cannabis users without signs of dependence, and those who did not use cannabis at all. The researchers also used a statistical analysis to ensure that the groups were similar in age, gender, and health history to ensure any differences in outcomes could be more clearly linked to cannabis use.
The researchers then tracked the participants’ health history for three years after their initial diagnosis to determine which patients developed ALD, experienced liver failure, or died from any cause.
Analysis of the data showed that patients with cannabis use disorder had a 40% lower risk of developing alcohol-related liver disease compared to participants who did not use cannabis. Patients with cannabis use disorder also had a 17% lower risk of serious liver complications and a 14% lower risk of death from any cause. The data also showed that patients who only used cannabis occasionally still had a slightly lower chance of developing liver disease.
Liver Health and CBD
Previous studies with animal models have shown that CBD may reduce liver inflammation and oxidative stress. The compound may also help liver cells to process fat more effectively, which could help prevent fat buildup and inflammation, both of which can be early signs of liver damage.
“CBD appears to calm inflammation and reduce some of the chemical signals that drive liver scarring,” said Juan Pablo Arab, M.D., director of alcohol sciences for VCU’s Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health and the study’s senior author. “Our findings show that real-world cannabis use may have some of these same protective effects in people who drink heavily.”
The researchers stressed that their findings do not suggest that people should use cannabis to protect their liver from the effects of alcohol. Using cannabis has its own risks, particularly for young people and those with a history of mental illness.
“This study shows an association, not cause and effect,” said Butros Fakhoury, M.D., VCU Health hospitalist and study author. “Cannabis may have protective properties, but we still don’t know exactly how much, what form or what dose might be safe or effective. The goal isn’t to promote cannabis use, but to understand which parts of it might hold promise as medicine.”
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The information in this article and any included images or charts are for educational purposes only. This information is neither a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional legal advice or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about laws, regulations, or your health, you should always consult with an attorney, physician or other licensed professional.
