Cannabis no desempenho e respostas fisiológicas induzidas pelo exercício: uma revisão sistemática

Abstract

The effects of cannabis on athletic performance remain unclear. The aim of this systematic review of randomised controlled trials is to investigate the effects of cannabis on exercise-induced performance and physiological responses in healthy adults. Search strategy was conducted on EMBASE, MEDLINE, PSYCHINFO, AMED, COCHRANE LIBRARY, CINAHL, SPORTDISCUSS and PEDRO databases without language or data restrictions up to April 2022. All randomised controlled trials evaluating cannabis use on exercise-induced performance and physiological responses in healthy adults were included. The outcomes of interest were strength, respiratory rate, heart rate, blood pressure, aerobic capacity, flexibility, speed, and adverse events evaluated using any valid instruments. The 0-10 PEDro scale was used to assess methodological quality of included trials. The strength of the current evidence was assessed using the Grade of Recommendations Assessment (GRADE) approach. Two independent reviewers selected trials, and they assessed methodological quality, extracted data, and assessed certainty of the current evidence using the GRADE approach. Potential discrepancies were resolved by consensus and in case of maintained disagreement a third reviewer was consulted to resolve it. Protocol was prospectively registered at PROSPERO and Open Science Framework. Acute CBD dosing did not reduce systolic or diastolic blood pressure at rest, only mean blood pressure compared to placebo and systolic blood pressure under stress. Chronic dosing did not reduce 24-hour monitored blood pressure but reduced arterial stiffness compared to single dosing, increasing internal carotid diameter compared to placebo at rest and flow mediation dilatation compared to the same group treated with single dosing of CBD. Side effects reported were migraine and lightheadedness in the placebo group and insomnia, lack of appetite, hyperactivity, headache and dysuria in the intervention group. It is concluded that the use of CBD reduces blood pressure, but this result is limited to the analysis of only one trial. Future studies are needed to better assess the effects of this compound associated with exercise.