Different CBD:THC ratio oils showed distinct benefits for fatty liver disease in rats

THC-rich oil and CBD:THC 1:1 and 2:1 ratio oils showed the greatest benefits against hepatic steatosis and liver damage. CBD-rich oil and CBD:THC 1:1, 2:1, and 3:1 ratio oils showed antihypertensive properties. All five cannabis oils exhibited antioxidant effects and normalized liver CB1 receptor expression.

Male Wistar rats were fed a sucrose-rich diet for 3 weeks to induce NAFLD. Seven groups received either reference diet, sucrose diet alone, or sucrose diet plus one of five cannabis oils (THC-rich, CBD-rich, CBD:THC 1:1, 2:1, or 3:1) at 1.5 mg total cannabinoids/kg/day. The oils contained eight identified terpenes. Blood pressure, serum markers, liver histology, lipid metabolism enzymes, oxidative stress markers, and CB1 receptor expression were measured.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease affects roughly 25% of the global population, and there are few effective pharmacological treatments. This study systematically compares multiple CBD:THC ratios for the first time in a NAFLD model, showing that the optimal ratio depends on which symptom you are targeting.

The finding that different cannabinoid ratios target different aspects of metabolic syndrome suggests that one-size-fits-all cannabis formulations may miss the mark. The presence of terpenes in all oils adds complexity, as these compounds have their own biological activities that could contribute to the observed effects.

Short 3-week intervention in a diet-induced rat model. Only male rats were used. The sucrose-rich diet model does not capture all features of human NAFLD. Terpene content varied across oils, making it impossible to isolate cannabinoid ratio effects from terpene effects. Low cannabinoid dose (1.5 mg/kg) may not reflect human dosing.