In rats with diet-induced fatty liver disease, cannabis oils with higher THC content best reduced liver fat and damage, while CBD-rich oils better lowered blood pressure, and all five oils reduced oxidative stress.
People interested in cannabis ratios for metabolic health, and researchers studying cannabinoids and liver disease.
CBD:THC 1:1 and 2:1 ratios showed benefits across the most metabolic syndrome features
What the researchers found
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.
Why it matters
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 numbers in context
Five cannabis oils tested at 1.5 mg/kg/day. Terpenes identified: beta-myrcene, d-limonene, terpinolene, linalool, beta-caryophyllene, alpha-humulene, guaiol, alpha-bisabolol. SRD-fed rats developed hypertension, dyslipidemia, liver damage, hepatic steatosis, lipid peroxidation, and CB1 receptor upregulation.
How the study worked
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.
What this study cannot tell us
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.
How to read the evidence
Animal study with systematic comparison of five formulations but short duration, male-only design, and confounding terpene variation.
When this study was published
Published in 2025.
The bigger picture
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.
Questions still open
- Would longer treatment periods show different patterns? How much do the terpenes contribute versus the cannabinoids themselves? Would these results translate to human NAFLD patients? Is the 1:1 ratio optimal because it provides both liver protection and blood pressure benefits?
Common questions
Which CBD:THC ratio was best overall?
Did the oils contain only CBD and THC?
Read the original research
Effects of five cannabis oils with different CBD: THC ratios and terpenes on hypertension, dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis, oxidative stress, and CB1 receptor in an experimental model.
Journal of cannabis research, 7(1), 46
Citation
Degrave, Valentina; Vega Joubert, Michelle Berenice; Filippa, Camila; Ingaramo, Paola; Torregiani, Lucía; Caro, Yamile Soledad; De Zan, María Mercedes; D'Alessandro, María Eugenia; Oliva, María Eugenia. (2025). Effects of five cannabis oils with different CBD: THC ratios and terpenes on hypertension, dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis, oxidative stress, and CB1 receptor in an experimental model.. Journal of cannabis research, 7(1), 46. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-025-00286-8
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