A recent study conducted by researchers affiliated with the University of Colorado shows that products with water-soluble cannabidiol provide the best absorption of CBD, revealing new practices for consumers seeking the benefits of the popular cannabinoid. This study, which was published last month in the peer-reviewed journal Nutrients , also examined the effect that cannabidiol has on digestion and found that CBD products are best absorbed when consumed with food, among other findings.
The study, which was conducted in conjunction with Colorado State University's Department of Health and Exercise Science, compared the absorption of five different formulations of CBD in 14 male test subjects. The products studied included CBD diluted in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), coconut oil, CBD isolate, and three different water-soluble CBD compounds. The goal of the study is to document how each of these CBD products enters and leaves the bloodstream and at what rate. In addition, the study analyzed how the formulations interacted with liver functionality and whether there was evidence that food intake and metabolism were affected by the products.
Water-soluble CBD has the best absorption
The study found that water-soluble CBD preparations demonstrated better pharmacokinetics compared to oil-based CBD. One of the water-soluble CBD preparations used in the study was created with a special proprietary technology from NextEvo Naturals that has been shown to significantly improve bioanalytical performance. John McDonagh, the company's CEO, said the research opens up new options for consumers on how to get the most benefit from CBD products.
"Although the potential health benefits of CBD are widespread, this new material suggests that consumers should carefully consider the pharmacokinetic differences between commercial CBD formulations, for example, how the CBD you take is absorbed in the body," McDonagh said in a statement from NextEvo . "Our goal was to prove that our product formulations can offer real CBD benefits as they enter the bloodstream quickly and efficiently."
The results of the study, which NextEvo notes have not been evaluated by the US Food and Drug Administration, show a greater than 500% difference in peak blood concentration between water-soluble compounds with CBD compared to oil-based formulations and unformulated CBD isolate . This difference represents a significant difference in the body's ability to absorb and process CBD, which is necessary to reap the potential health and wellness benefits of the cannabinoid.
Taking CBD with food increases absorption
The results also show that consuming water-soluble CBD with food significantly increases the body's absorption of CBD and alters early insulin and triglyceride responses. Six hours after consumption, the concentration of CBD in the bloodstream is three times higher when consumed with food compared to taking the product after fasting. David Chernoff, MD, chief medical officer at NextEvo , says the research reveals CBD's potential positive effect on insulin and triglyceride levels.
"The results of our study show that within 30 minutes of a meal, CBD appears to reduce insulin and triglyceride levels. The exact mechanism of how CBD affects insulin levels and triglyceride levels is unclear because CBD levels 30 minutes after a meal are very low,” Chernoff wrote in an email. "What can be concluded from these findings is that CBD may have a beneficial effect on how fats and sugars are metabolized after a meal, so CBD may be useful for maintaining healthy glucose and lipid metabolism."
Researchers have long debated whether eating food or fasting can affect the absorption of CBD into the bloodstream. Some have found that eating when taking fat-soluble CBD helps, but new research suggests that taking water-soluble CBD products with food will provide the most benefit. “We have found that the best way for consumers to take CBD is in a product containing a water-soluble formula with food. This allows the body an opportunity for maximum absorption into the bloodstream," writes Chernoff. "The more CBD is absorbed by the body, the more likely the user will experience the potential benefits of CBD."
This is one of the first studies to examine the potential benefits of CBD on digestion and whether it should be taken with food,” NextEvo wrote in a statement about the study. "The study provides substantial evidence that consuming CBD with food alters the dynamics of CBD metabolism and increases systemic availability beneficially, modifying early insulin and triglyceride responses."
The research also revealed new evidence for the safety of CBD. The study showed that CBD taken in moderate doses, in this case 30 mg per dose, did not induce physiologically significant changes in markers of liver function, suggesting that CBD probably does not pose a risk to the liver. Potential limitations of the study identified by researchers, include a small sample size and the fact that all test subjects were male, although the authors wrote that they had "no reason to suspect the potential for gender differences."
A study report, "Cannabidiol and Cannabidiol Metabolites: Pharmacokinetics, Food Interactions, and Effects on Liver Function," was published online by the journal Nutrients in May.
Author: AJ Herrington