Clinical Trial Finds Cannabis Oil May Help with Symptoms of Systemic Sclerosis

Cannabis has been shown to have an effect on the appetite stimulation in certain conditions, but could it also have a similar effect for individuals with systemic sclerosis (SSc)? A recently published study examined the effects of a cannabis oil on appetite, inflammatory markers, and quality of life in patients with SSc and anorexia or malnutrition. The condition is characterized by skin tightness in the face, hands, feet, forearms, and legs, or trunk and both extremities, and malnutrition, possibly due to inflammation and other causes, is a complication associated with the condition. The study, “Efficacy of cannabis oil on appetite and quality of life in systemic sclerosis patients: a randomized placebo-controlled trial,” was published in the Journal of Cannabis Research in October 2025.

Study Design: Cannabis and Appetite Stimulation

The 27 participants, all between the ages of 18 and 70 years of age and diagnosed with SSc, were randomized into a treatment or placebo group.

Changes in appetite were measured by visual analogue scale (VAS), along with changes in body weight (BW), daily caloric intake, and inflammatory markers. Quality of life (QoL) was measured using the EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) scoring. Adverse effects during the study were also tracked.

Cannabis Dosage and Administration

The participants in the test group received a cannabis oil in a 1:1 ratio of THC and CBD, containing 27 mg of THC plus 30 mg of CBD/mL. Each drop contained 0.73 mg THC and 0.81 mg of CBD.

The participants consumed one drop of the oil sublingually twice per day for one week at baseline. The drops increased two twice per day, if tolerated, through the end of the study at four weeks. The placebo group mirrored this consumption pattern, but with the placebo oil instead.

A six week follow up was also conducted to assess health and safety after stopping the treatment for two weeks.

Results: Trends Towards Improvements

The cannabis oil treatment resulted in trends in improvement for some measurements, with varying statistical significance. Highlighted results after four weeks of the study include:

• Individuals in the treatment group demonstrated significantly higher mean differences in VAS scores in hunger compared with the placebo group
• Body weight and body mass index (BMI) were higher in the treatment group, while these decreased in the placebo group, though the mean changes were not statistically significant
• Daily caloric intake in the treatment group was increased compared with the placebo, though not statistically significant
• No statistically significant changes in daily protein intake were seen
• Levels in the inflammation markers ESR And CRP decreased in the treatment group and increased in the placebo group, but did not demonstrate statistically significant changes
• QoL increased in the treatment group and decreased in the placebo group, though the changes were not statistically significant

Adverse events were reported in both groups and included somnolence and dizziness. The occurrence of adverse events between the groups was not significantly different. Limitations to the study included a small sample size and generalizability.

Impact for Patients and Future Studies

Overall, the researchers noted potential for future studies to confirm the findings, and the treatment was described to be generally well tolerated by the participants.

“Cannabis oil demonstrated a trend toward improving appetite, satisfaction with eating, body weight, daily calorie intake, and quality of life in SSc patients with anorexia or malnutrition,” they stated. “While most outcome measures did not reach statistical significance, the treatment group showed a significant increase in hunger VAS scores…Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are needed to confirm the potential benefits of cannabinoids in SSc-related anorexia and inflammation.”

Reference

1. Pisprasert, V.; Sripanichkulchai, B.; Khannongpho, T. et al. Efficacy of cannabis oil on appetite and quality of life in systemic sclerosis patients: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. J Cannabis Res 2025. 7(82). DOI: 10.1186/s42238-025-00342-3