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CBD Ameliorates Heart Damage?

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Can CBD (cannabidiol) ameliorate heart damage? Specifically, can cannabidiol prevent the chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy that doxorubicin (adriamycin) can cause?

I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in early 1994. I didn’t know it at the time but I was prescribed 5 chemotherapy regimens that are known to be cardiotoxic.

Fully 15 years after my conventional cancer therapies, I developed chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy. I wish I knew then what I know now…



What are some other non-conventional therapies to protect against chemo-induced heart damage?

1. Nutritional Interventions

  • Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10): An antioxidant that helps support mitochondrial function and has shown potential in reducing oxidative stress and cardiotoxicity.
  • Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Found in fish oil, these may reduce inflammation and improve overall heart function.
  • Curcumin: The active compound in turmeric has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that could mitigate cardiotoxicity.
  • Resveratrol: Found in red grapes, resveratrol may protect against oxidative damage and improve endothelial function.

2. Herbal and Traditional Medicine

  • Ashwagandha: An adaptogenic herb with cardioprotective and anti-inflammatory properties.
  • Hawthorn (Crataegus): Traditionally used for heart health, it may help improve cardiac function.
  • Ginseng: Shown to protect heart cells from oxidative stress in some studies.
  • Milk Thistle (Silymarin): Known for its liver-protective effects, it also has antioxidant properties that may benefit the heart.

3. Exercise Therapy

  • Moderate-intensity exercise, tailored to the individual’s tolerance, can reduce chemotherapy-induced inflammation and oxidative stress while improving cardiac function.

4. Mind-Body Therapies

  • Yoga and Meditation: These practices reduce stress and inflammation, which can indirectly protect the heart.
  • Tai Chi/Qigong: Gentle movements and breathing techniques improve circulation and heart health.

5. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

  • HBOT has shown promise in reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, potentially mitigating chemotherapy-induced damage.

6. Mitochondrial-Targeted Therapies

  • MitoQ (Mitochondria-Targeted Antioxidant): A derivative of CoQ10 designed to specifically target mitochondria.
  • Elamipretide (MTP-131): An experimental peptide that protects mitochondria from damage.

7. Peptide-Based Therapies

  • Some emerging peptides, like angiotensin-(1-7), show promise in reducing cardiac fibrosis and damage.

8. Dietary Modifications

  • Ketogenic Diet: There’s preliminary evidence suggesting that a ketogenic diet might protect heart cells during chemotherapy by reducing oxidative stress.
  • Mediterranean Diet: Rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients, this diet may support heart health.

9. Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation

  • L-Carnitine: Supports energy metabolism in heart cells and may reduce damage.
  • Magnesium and Potassium: Essential for heart muscle function and rhythm stability.
  • Vitamin E and Selenium: Antioxidants that may reduce chemotherapy-induced oxidative stress.

10. Experimental Therapies

  • Stem Cell Therapy: Emerging studies suggest that stem cells may regenerate damaged heart tissue.
  • Exosomes: Small vesicles derived from stem cells are being studied for their regenerative potential.

11. Phytochemicals and Antioxidants

  • Quercetin: A flavonoid with cardioprotective effects.
  • EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate): Found in green tea, EGCG has antioxidant properties.

12. Heat Shock Proteins (HSP) Modulation

  • Certain natural compounds, such as celastrol or geranylgeranylacetone, may upregulate protective heat shock proteins, reducing heart damage.

13. Probiotics and Gut Microbiota

  • Some evidence suggests that maintaining a healthy gut microbiome can indirectly protect against systemic inflammation and cardiotoxicity.

Don’t be surprised if your oncologist does not suggest any of the therapies listed above if you are to undergo one or more cardiotoxic chemo regimens.  Everything listed above (as well as CBD) is consider non-conventional meaning, not approved by the FDA.

Email me at David.PeopleBeatingCancer@gmail.com with questions about your MM or questions about chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy.

David Emerson

  • MM Survivor
  • MM Cancer Coach
  • Director PeopleBeatingCancer

Cannabidiol Ameliorates Doxorubicin-Induced Myocardial Injury via Activating Hippo Pathway

Background:

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a chemotherapeutic agent widely used for cancer treatment and has non-negligible cardiotoxicity. Some previous studies have reported that cannabidiol (CBD) has cardioprotective effects. In this study, we evaluated the protective effects of CBD against DOX-induced cardiomyocyte injury, and explored the downstream molecular mechanism.

Methods and Materials: GSE193861, containing healthy myocardial tissues and myocardial tissues with DOX-induced injury, was analyzed to screen for the involved proteins and pathways. Molecular docking was performed to identify candidate drugs.

After H9c2 cells were treated with DOX and CBD, their viability, oxidative stress, and apoptosis were assessed. After YAP depletion, the role of the Hippo pathway in CBD function was investigated.

C57BL/6 mice were treated with DOX to establish an in vivo model, and CBD and verteporfin (VP) were used to treat the mice. Histological analyses and immunofluorescence were used to evaluate myocardial tissue injury, and apoptosis and oxidative stress of the myocardial tissues were also analyzed. Western blotting was used to investigate the regulatory effects of CBD on the Hippo and apoptosis-related pathways.

Results: Bioinformatic analysis suggested that the Hippo pathway was a crucial pathway involved in DOX-induced myocardial injury. Molecular docking showed that CBD targeted multiple regulators of the Hippo pathway. CBD showed cardioprotective effects against DOX-induced myocardial injury both in vitro and in vivo and regulated Hippo pathway activity in cardiomyocytes. After inactivation of the Hippo pathway by YAP knockdown or VP intervention, the protective effects of CBD were reversed.

Conclusion: For the first time, we revealed that CBD is likely to reduce DOX-induced myocardial injury by regulating the Hippo signaling pathway.

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