Oxidation is a toxic process with potential to cause substantial damage to the body. CBD may prevent this damage through its strong antioxidant properties.
Oxidation is essentially an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants. Free radicals produced as cellular waste are neutralized by antioxidants. If too abundant, however, they may cause serious conditions, including neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and inflammatory disorders such as arthritis.
What is oxidative stress?
Oxidative stress is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants, resulting in oxidation. It may accelerate arthritis, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, cancer or Crohn's disease. Bodily oxidation is the same process that produces rust after oxygen exposure and makes some foods turn brown.
What are free radicals?
Free radicals are waste products of cellular energy production. They are also described as reactive oxygen species containing oxygen and at least one unpaired electron.
This electron makes them reactive with other molecules. A free radical steals an electron from another molecule within a cell.
The new electron stabilizes the radical while destabilizing the cellular molecule, creating a chain reaction.
If the chain reaction continues, oxidative stress can severely damage cells and tissues, including DNA. Common reactive oxygen species include superoxide, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl oxide.
What are antioxidants?
Antioxidants are key to stopping oxidative stress. They stabilize free radicals without themselves becoming unstable, preventing chain reactions.
Powerful antioxidants include vitamins A, C and E, beta-carotene and cannabidiol (CBD).
CBD as an antioxidant
The United States government holds a patent (No. 6630507) covering cannabinoids' neuroprotective and antioxidant properties. It claims CBD has potential to treat and prevent oxidative-stress-related diseases.
A 1998 study by the inventors, including lead scientist Aidan J. Hampson, showed CBD was neuroprotective, protecting neurons from free-radical-induced toxicity.
Researchers found CBD prevented hydrogen-peroxide-induced oxidative damage like the powerful antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). It also offered more protection than vitamins C and E in a glutamate neurotoxicity test.
CBD's antioxidant properties in neurological disease
CBD has demonstrated antioxidant effects in neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's, migraine and epilepsy, with further research ongoing. In each, oxidative stress damages nerves and leads to glutamate neurotoxicity.
CBD prevents oxidative damage by inhibiting free radical production and nitric oxide (NO) release, itself a free radical. It also protects nerves by reducing free radical levels and normalizing glutamate.
CBD's antioxidant properties in inflammatory disease
Inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's are also affected by oxidation. Lipid oxidation, or damage to fat molecules, appears important in their oxidative injury.
Lipid oxidation occurs when free radicals destabilize fat molecules. It is associated with increased activity in both rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease.
In inflammatory disorders, CBD protects lipids by reducing reactive oxygen species. Studies suggest protecting lipids helps Crohn's patients retain fat stores and may prevent joint damage in arthritis.
CBD may treat oxidative stress
As discussed, oxidative stress is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants.
Excess radicals can cause serious damage, potentially triggering and accelerating neurological diseases, cancer and inflammatory disorders.
Antioxidants such as CBD can limit damage and prevent further oxidation. By inhibiting radical production, CBD offers an option for treating oxidative stress.
Remember that our articles are informational. Consult your doctor before CBD or any other treatment. We wish you good health.
