A self-emulsifying CBD formulation achieved 4.4 times higher peak blood levels and nearly 3 times greater absorption than CBD dissolved in standard MCT oil.
CBD consumers, product formulators, and researchers studying cannabinoid bioavailability.
4.4x higher peak CBD levels
What the researchers found
The SEDDS-CBD formulation produced a 4.4-fold higher peak concentration (Cmax), 2.85-fold higher 8-hour exposure (AUC0-8h), and reached peak levels in 1 hour versus 3 hours for standard MCT oil. The formulation also reduced gender-based absorption differences.
Why it matters
CBD's poor and unpredictable oral absorption is a major barrier to consistent therapeutic effects. A delivery system that dramatically improves bioavailability could make CBD dosing more reliable and effective.
The numbers in context
25 mg CBD dose; Cmax 4.4-fold higher; AUC0-8h 2.85-fold higher; AUC0-24h 1.70-fold higher; Tmax 1.0 hour vs. 3.0 hours; 16 subjects in crossover design.
How the study worked
Randomized, double-blind, crossover study in 16 healthy volunteers under fasting conditions, comparing SEDDS-CBD against the same hemp extract in MCT oil, both standardized to 25 mg CBD.
What this study cannot tell us
Small sample (16 subjects). Tested only a single 25 mg dose under fasting conditions. Long-term use not assessed. The formulation technology is proprietary (VESIsorb), limiting independent replication.
How to read the evidence
Moderate: well-designed crossover RCT but small sample size and single-dose design.
When this study was published
Published in 2019.
The bigger picture
Most commercial CBD products use simple oil-based formulations with notoriously poor absorption. This type of drug delivery technology could close the gap between what works in research settings and what consumers actually absorb.
Questions still open
- Does the improved bioavailability translate to better clinical outcomes? How does food affect this formulation's absorption? Would lower doses of SEDDS-CBD match higher doses of conventional CBD products?
Common questions
Why is CBD absorption a problem?
Did men and women absorb CBD differently?
Read the original research
A Novel Self-Emulsifying Drug Delivery System (SEDDS) Based on VESIsorb® Formulation Technology Improving the Oral Bioavailability of Cannabidiol in Healthy Subjects.
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 24(16)
Citation
Knaub, Katharina; Sartorius, Tina; Dharsono, Tanita; Wacker, Roland; Wilhelm, Manfred; Schön, Christiane. (2019). A Novel Self-Emulsifying Drug Delivery System (SEDDS) Based on VESIsorb® Formulation Technology Improving the Oral Bioavailability of Cannabidiol in Healthy Subjects.. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 24(16). https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24162967
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