Hemp oil, calamari oil and broccoli combined can support chiropractic care to reduce pain
The trial focused on patients with chronic pain (defined as “maladaptive pain that persists for more than three months”). Subjects self-reported perceived pain and pain interference. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) status in their peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were quantified before, during and after the trial.
The authors note that the intervention was associated with “a 52% decrease in pain intensity and several pain interference parameters, including sleep quality.” Decreases in oxidative stress markers were also observed in participants from the intervention group.
Seeking opioid alternatives
Pharmacological treatments to pain can be effective. But they carry a significant risk of addiction, dependence and other side effects. Widespread abuse of prescription opioid pain medications have inspired patients and doctors to seek alternatives.
Meanwhile, several dietary ingredients traditionally used for pain relief (such as broccoli) have potential analgesic properties, say the authors of the current report. There’s also evidence chiropractic interventions are effective in relieving chronic pain – especially when combined with lifestyle and nutritional interventions.
Randomised, double-blind and placebo controlled
The new study was an adaptive randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with a parallel assignment conducted in several North Carolina chiropractic clinics from 2018 to 2022. Eighteen women and seven men ranging in age from 37-74 years participated – all with chronic pain.
Participants were randomly assigned to consume a whole-food, multi-ingredient supplement (n = 12, intervention and standard chiropractic care) or placebo (n = 13, mineral oil and standard chiropractic care) daily for 12 weeks.
Intervention subjects consumed two softgels each day provided by Palmyra. They contained full-spectrum hemp oil standardised to 15 mg of phytocannabinoids, calamari oil standardised to 230 mg of omega-3 fatty acids, including 130 mg of DHA and 55 mg of EPA, TrueBroc broccoli extract standardized to 5 mg of glucoraphanin and a carrier oil (extra virgin olive oil). Other ingredients included gelatin, water, dimagnesium malate, glycerin and beeswax.
Results
Patients reported pain intensity decreasing by over half (52%) and a decrease in areas of pain interference like mood and quality of sleep. The authors also report decreases in oxidative stress markers, including a 29.4% drop in PMBC ROS.
The authors note that “this compares favourably with the current Initiative on Methods, Measurement, and Pain Assessment in Clinical Trials recommendation, which considers a 30% decrease in pain severity to be a moderately important and clinically meaningful improvement.”
They conclude that the trial “highlights the feasibility of applying this novel formulation of a whole-food-based, multi-ingredient hemp oil supplementation and shows that it is capable of supporting the body’s endogenous chronic pain and oxidative networks.”
Study limitations
The authors note that chronic pain can be a complex and diverse condition. This may have introduced variability into the trial.
Source: Nutrients
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15122654
"Alleviation of Pain, PAIN Interference, and Oxidative Stress by a Novel Combination of Hemp Oil, Calamari Oil, and Broccoli: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial."
Authors: Carlisle, C.; Polley, K.; Panda, C.; Barron, K.; Hamrock, M.; Dominique, A.; Metzger, B.; Le Brun-Blashka, S.; Komarnytsky, S.
