A recent study by researchers at Colorado State University found that water-soluble cannabidiol products provide the best absorption of CBD.
The study, published last month in the peer-reviewed journal Nutrients, also examined the effects cannabidiol has on digestion and determined that CBD products are best consumed with food for maximum absorption.
The study, conducted in collaboration with Colorado State University's Department of Health and Exercise Science, compared the absorption of five different CBD formulations in 14 male subjects. The products examined include CBD diluted in triglycerides (MCT) coconut oil, CBD isolate and three different water-soluble CBD formulations.
The aim of the study was to document how each of these formulations of CBD entered and exited the bloodstream and at what rate. In addition, it was investigated how and whether the products affected liver function and whether there were indications that food intake and metabolism were influenced by the products.
Water-soluble CBD had the best absorption
The study found that water-soluble CBD preparations showed superior pharmacokinetics compared to oil-based CBD. One of the water-soluble CBD preparations used in the study was made using proprietary technology that significantly improves bioavailability. John McDonagh, CEO of NextEvo Naturals, said the research sheds new light on how consumers can get the most out of the CBD products they take.
“While the potential health benefits of CBD have been widely publicized, these new data suggest that consumers should be very aware of the pharmacokinetic differences between commercial CBD formulations, such as how the CBD you ingest is absorbed into the body,” said McDonagh. in a statement from NextEvo. “We wanted to prove that our product formulations could potentially provide the many benefits of CBD as they enter the bloodstream quickly and efficiently.”
Taking cannabidiol with food increases absorption
The results also showed that consuming water-soluble CBD with food significantly increases the body's absorption of CBD and modifies early insulin and triglyceride responses. Six hours after consumption, the CBD concentration in the bloodstream was three times higher when consumed with food compared to ingesting the product without eating anything. David Chernoff, MD, chief medical officer at NextEvo, says the study uncovered the potential positive effect of CBD on insulin and triglyceride levels.
“Our study results show that CBD appeared to lower insulin and triglyceride levels within 30 minutes of eating a meal. The exact mechanism of how CBD affects insulin and triglyceride levels is unclear, as CBD levels are very low 30 minutes after a meal,” Chernoff writes. “What can be inferred from these findings is that CBD may have a beneficial effect on the way fats and sugars are broken down after a meal, so CBD may be beneficial in supporting healthy glucose and lipid metabolism.”
“We have found that the best way for consumers to take CBD is in a product with a water-soluble formulation with a meal. This gives the body the opportunity for maximum absorption into the bloodstream,” Chernoff writes. “The more CBD the body absorbs, the more likely the consumer is to experience the potential benefits of CBD.”
“This is one of the first studies to explore the potential digestive benefits of cannabidiol and whether it should be administered with food. The study provides significant evidence that consuming CBD with food alters the dynamics of CBD metabolism and increases systemic availability, favorably altering early insulin and triglyceride responses.”
The study also uncovered new evidence about the safety of cannabidol. The study showed that CBD taken in moderate doses (in this case 30mg per dose) does not cause physiologically relevant changes in markers of liver function, suggesting that CBD to that extent is unlikely to pose a risk to the liver.
Potential limitations of the study identified by the researchers include a small sample size and the fact that all subjects were male, although the authors wrote they "have no reason to suspect the potential for sex differences."
A report on the study, “Cannabidiol and Cannabidiol Metabolites: Pharmacokinetics, Interaction with Food, and Impact on Liver Function,” was published online in May by the journal Nutrients.
Source: Forbes.com (EN)
