CBD at 50mg or 300mg Did Not Improve or Impair Running Performance in Trained Athletes

In 25 trained runners, neither 50 mg nor 300 mg CBD taken 90 minutes before exercise altered affective valence, enjoyment, perceived exertion, pain, heart rate, VO2, VO2peak, or time to exhaustion compared to placebo. 300 mg CBD did decrease the respiratory exchange ratio during submaximal running, and 50 mg CBD increased post-exercise blood glucose. No effect on muscle damage markers.

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial. 25 trained runners (16 male, VO2max=53.1 mL/min/kg) received placebo, 50 mg, or 300 mg CBD 90 minutes before a 60-min submaximal treadmill run followed by an incremental run to exhaustion. Registered clinical trial (ACTRN12622000717752).

Athletes increasingly use CBD for recovery and other health purposes. This rigorous trial provides reassurance that acute CBD use at common doses does not impair performance, while also finding no performance enhancement.

This is one of the most rigorous studies on CBD and exercise performance to date. The null findings for performance and subjective experience are important: athletes can use CBD for other reasons (sleep, anxiety, recovery) without concerns about acute performance impairment.

Acute single-dose design; chronic CBD use effects not assessed. Sample of trained runners may not generalize to other athletes or recreational exercisers. Three conditions in crossover design may not fully washout. The RER and glucose findings need replication.