CBD Altered Exercise Physiology Without Hurting Performance in Trained Runners
In a pilot RCT of 9 endurance-trained males, 300 mg oral CBD appeared to increase oxygen consumption, feelings of pleasure during running, and VO2max without affecting time to exhaustion.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
CBD appeared to increase VO2 during steady-state running, ratings of pleasure, and blood lactate. During the incremental test, CBD appeared to increase VO2max and respiratory exchange ratio. No differences in time to exhaustion, heart rate, or perceived exertion. CBD reduced post-exercise IL-6 concentrations.
Key Numbers
9 participants, VO2max 57.4 mL/min/kg. CBD dose: 300 mg oral. VO2 increased during steady-state running. Pleasure ratings increased. VO2max appeared higher (+119 mL/min). RERmax increased. IL-6 reduced post-exercise. No differences in time to exhaustion or heart rate.
How They Did This
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover pilot study. 9 endurance-trained males (mean VO2max 57.4 mL/min/kg) completed two sessions: 60 min at 70% VO2max followed by an incremental test to exhaustion. 300 mg oral CBD or placebo given 1.5 hours before exercise.
Why This Research Matters
Athletes are increasingly using CBD for recovery and performance. This is among the first controlled studies examining CBD's acute effects on exercise physiology, finding it changes metabolic responses without impairing performance.
The Bigger Picture
The increased pleasure during exercise and reduced inflammatory markers align with CBD's known anxiolytic and anti-inflammatory properties. If confirmed in larger studies, CBD could be relevant for exercise adherence (via enjoyment) and recovery (via inflammation reduction).
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Very small sample (9 males). Pilot study with wide confidence intervals. Effects assessed using effect sizes rather than traditional significance testing. Only one CBD dose tested. Acute dosing may not reflect chronic use patterns.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would chronic CBD use produce different exercise effects than acute dosing?
- ?Does CBD benefit recreational exercisers differently than trained athletes?
- ?Is the increased VO2 reflecting a metabolic shift or reduced exercise efficiency?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- CBD increased pleasure during exercise and reduced post-exercise IL-6
- Evidence Grade:
- Preliminary: randomized crossover design but only 9 participants in a pilot study.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2022.
- Original Title:
- Effects of Cannabidiol on Exercise Physiology and Bioenergetics: A Randomised Controlled Pilot Trial.
- Published In:
- Sports medicine - open, 8(1), 27 (2022)
- Authors:
- Sahinovic, Ayshe(3), Irwin, Christopher(12), Doohan, Peter T(7), Kevin, Richard C, Cox, Amanda J, Lau, Namson S, Desbrow, Ben, Johnson, Nathan A, Sabag, Angelo, Hislop, Matthew, Haber, Paul S, McGregor, Iain S, McCartney, Danielle
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04190
Evidence Hierarchy
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or placebo groups to test cause and effect.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does CBD improve athletic performance?
This pilot study found CBD did not improve endurance (time to exhaustion was unchanged) but appeared to increase oxygen consumption and exercise enjoyment. It also reduced a marker of post-exercise inflammation. Larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Is CBD banned in sports?
CBD was removed from the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited list in 2018. However, many CBD products contain trace amounts of THC, which remains prohibited. Athletes should verify product purity.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04190APA
Sahinovic, Ayshe; Irwin, Christopher; Doohan, Peter T; Kevin, Richard C; Cox, Amanda J; Lau, Namson S; Desbrow, Ben; Johnson, Nathan A; Sabag, Angelo; Hislop, Matthew; Haber, Paul S; McGregor, Iain S; McCartney, Danielle. (2022). Effects of Cannabidiol on Exercise Physiology and Bioenergetics: A Randomised Controlled Pilot Trial.. Sports medicine - open, 8(1), 27. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-022-00417-y
MLA
Sahinovic, Ayshe, et al. "Effects of Cannabidiol on Exercise Physiology and Bioenergetics: A Randomised Controlled Pilot Trial.." Sports medicine - open, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-022-00417-y
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Effects of Cannabidiol on Exercise Physiology and Bioenerget..." RTHC-04190. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/sahinovic-2022-effects-of-cannabidiol-on
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.