CBD shows promise for gut and lung diseases but its poor absorption remains a major barrier

CBD has demonstrated promise for alleviating gut and lung diseases in vitro, and Epidiolex is the only FDA/TGA-approved CBD product. However, CBD's poor water solubility, low oral bioavailability, and extensive first-pass metabolism significantly limit in vivo efficacy. Novel delivery methods including self-emulsifying emulsions, nanoparticles, and microparticles could overcome these barriers.

Review of in vitro, in vivo, and clinical research on CBD's therapeutic potential for gastrointestinal and lung diseases, with focus on identified research gaps and novel delivery technologies.

The gap between CBD's impressive lab results and its underwhelming clinical outcomes is largely a delivery problem. Understanding why CBD works in petri dishes but often fails in people is essential for developing products that actually deliver therapeutic benefit.

The CBD market generates billions in revenue from products that may deliver subtherapeutic doses due to poor absorption. Closing the gap between CBD's pharmacological potential and its bioavailability could transform it from a wellness trend into a legitimate therapeutic platform.

Review focuses on delivery challenges, which may underemphasize the possibility that CBD's clinical effects are genuinely modest regardless of delivery. Much evidence is preclinical.