31
FOOD
No one knows yet exactly how
CBD works. In fact, not yet knowing
is a common theme with CBD, partly
because of drug laws that previously
made research difficult. But it's
thought CBD it might have an effect
on the body's endocannabinoid
system (ECS), a network of chemical
signals and cellular receptors
believed to regulate various
important functions including sleep,
pain control, emotion, digestion,
immunity, memory and hormone
release. That might explain why
CBD appears to be suitable for such
a range of complaints. But how it
influences the ECS remains down to
speculation.
Research into CBD's benefits is
ongoing, so hopefully the evidence
will start to stack up. It has already
been in use for thousands of years
to treat pain. Recent studies in
humans have suggested it might
relieve cancer pain, chronic pain,
arthritis, fibromyalgia and nerve pain.
It was generally more effective in
combination with THC. On the other
hand, an Australian review of 104
studies on the use of cannabis and
cannabinoids for pain found it was
barely more effective than a placebo.
Mental health
There seems to have been some
success with mental health disorders,
in particular calming anxiety and
social anxiety. Studies have shown
it to be helpful for people with
PTSD, and a Brazilian study found
that men who took a 300mg dose of
CBD before a public speaking test
were less anxious. But given that
the Food Standards Agency (FSA),
which is responsible for regulating
edible CBD products in the UK,
recommends a maximum daily dose
of 70mg, it's hard to say whether a
consumer product would have the
desired effect.
Some small studies have shown
CBD to be capable of bringing down
blood pressure in men, and a few
others have suggested it might bring
benefits for sleep disorders, including
insomnia and restless legs syndrome.
But, with all these conditions, more
research is needed.
And the six-million-dollar
question: could CBD help with
diabetes? Most studies so far have
been on rodents but there are hints
it could be beneficial to humans. It
could be useful for nerve pain, for
example.
Beyond that, a study from the
University of Nottingham found
that CBD and another cannabinoid
THCV together helped reduce
blood sugar levels and boost insulin
production in people with Type 2.
GW Pharmaceuticals, now part of
UK-based Jazz Pharma, which funded
the study, is reportedly developing a
spray that could help with this.
The case of a Hispanic man
with Type 2 diabetes in the US
was recently documented. Under
the supervision of his doctor, he
stabilised his blood glucose by
replacing his insulin with CBD oil
after struggling to keep his HbA1c
within limits.
But this is something someone
with diabetes should never do alone.
There might be side effects such as
diarrhoea or even, if you take high
doses of CBD, liver damage. It could
also interact with other drugs you
take, including metformin, and it's
difficult to know if you're taking the
right dose.
Health claims
An added problem is that companies
are not allowed to make health claims
about the benefits of their products
in the UK, so it's up to consumers
to navigate the minefield. Another
issue is quality. Food businesses were
required to apply for authorisation
to the FSA, which considers it a food
supplement and has a list of CBD
products that are being assessed for
safety. Those not on it can't be sold
in the UK. Buy something that isn't
on the list - perhaps online - and you
don't know what's in it or whether it
would ever stand a chance of being
licensed for sale.
So, it would be wrong to dismiss
this extract from the hemp plant as a
load of old rope, but we will need to
be patient in order to find out how
effective and safe it really is.
Resources:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/
medical-cannabis/
www.food.gov.uk/safetyhygiene/cannabidiol-cbd
diabetesjournals.org/care/
article/39/10/1777/129/
Efficacy-and-Safety-ofCannabidiol-and
www.goodhousekeeping.com/
health/wellness/a30139161/
what-is-cbd/
LIVINGLIVING
be delivered with its dime-sized patch.
Based on technology originally developed
at the University of Queensland, Vaxxas'
HD-MAP includes a 9-by-9 mm array
of thousands of very short projections
around 250 microns in length. Invisible to
the naked eye and coated with vaccine,
the projections can quickly deliver vaccine
to immune cells.
Vaxxas also claims that the patches
can deliver vaccine more efficiently - a
positive when people around the world are
clamouring for a vaccine against COVID19. The
company points to a recent
clinical study in which their micropatch
delivering a sixth of an influenza vaccine
dose produced an immune response
comparable to a full dose by intramuscular
injection. A two-thirds dose by HD-MAP
generated significantly faster and higher
overall antibody responses.
Because a vaccine is dried onto the
patch, the vaccines are stable outside
of cold-chain (they do not have to be
refridgerated), a potential answer to the
question of how to keep a traditional
COVID-19 vaccine cold in developing
countries and even developed countries.
Vaccines delivered through HD-MAP in
the clinical study stayed stable at 40oC
(104o F) for 12 months.
EDIT COMMENT: It's a different use
for patch, in the diabetes sector at this
stage, sensors are used to sense glucose,
not deliver drugs, but it's not beyond the
realms of reason that a similar micropatch
could be used for such a purpose in the
future to deliver diabetes medications.
Life Sport Diabetes
Mel Stephenson-Grey's home workout
circuit consists of six different exercises.
She explains, "With each exercise we'll
do consecutively for 30 seconds and then
rest for 30 seconds. If someone is new to
fitness or this type of activity, they might
choose to take a longer rest between
each exercise, for say a minute or two.
Once all of the exercises are completed,
we then take a six-minute rest (which
again is adaptable) and once recovered,
we repeat the circuit all over again."
Stephenson-Grey took part in the
London 2012 Olympics Games torch
relay and still trains (prior to lockdown) at
the track and in the gym. The exercises
she does include standing squats, pressups, the
plank, lunges, the superman
pose (when the opposite arm and leg are
stretched out) and sit ups.
She says, "This type of fitness session
is inspired by the type of session I've often
done with my training group over the
years, particularly at the start of the winter
or summer training season, as it helps
build strength and fitness as a foundation
to move onto other things. It works the
arms, legs and core areas throughout
the session, which can be helpful when
training a lot, because no one area is
necessarily over-worked or strained."
The home workout videos have been
accepted by many in the community.
She adds, "I'm sharing what training
sessions work for me. Please remember
that you know your own fitness, health
and diabetes best. Seek medical advice
if you are concerned about undertaking
physical activity."
Home workouts with Mel Stephenson-Grey of Life Sport Diabetes.
www. lifesportdiabetes.co.uk
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