Cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG) may offer potential pain management for bone fracture patients. A Penn State University study discovered these two cannabinoids can promote fracture healing and published the findings in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
Previous research has indicated that current methods for managing pain often include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin. Still, they are sometimes not a practical option for bone fracture patients.
The primary goal of the Penn State study was to measure CBD and CBG's separate abilities to alleviate pain in mice. A significant body of research indicates CBD's effectiveness in managing pain and inflammation, but research on CBG's properties is limited. Study author and associate professor of orthopedics and rehabilitation at Penn State College of Medicine, Dr. Reyad Elbarbary, explained, "There is already robust safety information gathered on CBD. CBG is more investigational at this stage. It's more likely that CBD would be repurposed for treating fractures once a formulation is found and its efficacy for treatment in the context of bone fractures is determined."
The researchers noted a link between cannabinoids and increased amounts of periosteal bone progenitors in the early stages of treatment. This process is critical for supporting healthy bone tissue formation. The later phases of healing showed CBD and CBG accelerated mineral absorption that reinforces newly formed bone. CBD and CBG treatments led to higher bone volume fraction and mineral density than NSAID treatments.
According to Dr. Reyad Elbarbary, future research will explore the biological mechanisms involved in cannabinoids and fracture healing. Research will lead to discovering optimal formulations for bone fracture patients.
Sources: Eureka News Alert, Journal of Bone and Mineral Research
