Prenatal CBD Caused Glucose Intolerance in Male Rat Offspring
Male rats exposed to CBD in the womb developed glucose intolerance by 3 months of age, with altered liver gene expression affecting circadian rhythm and metabolic processes, despite no apparent effects at birth.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Daily prenatal CBD (3 mg/kg from gestational day 6 to birth) produced no observable changes in maternal or neonatal outcomes. However, by 3 months, male offspring exhibited glucose intolerance despite no changes in pancreatic cell mass. Liver transcriptomic analysis revealed altered circadian rhythm clock machinery gene expression and disrupted hepatic developmental and metabolic processes.
Key Numbers
CBD dose: 3 mg/kg/day. GD 6 to parturition. No neonatal changes observed. Male-specific glucose intolerance at 3 months. Altered circadian clock genes in liver. Disrupted hepatic developmental and metabolic gene expression.
How They Did This
Pregnant Wistar rat dams received daily IP injections of vehicle or 3 mg/kg CBD from gestational day 6 to parturition. Offspring were assessed for glucose tolerance, pancreatic cell mass, and liver transcriptomics at 3 months.
Why This Research Matters
CBD is increasingly used during pregnancy, perceived as safe because it is non-psychoactive. This study reveals that prenatal CBD, even at modest doses, can have delayed metabolic consequences that are not apparent at birth but emerge in adulthood.
The Bigger Picture
Up to 20% of young women may use cannabis during pregnancy, and many assume CBD products are safe. This study joins others showing that prenatal cannabinoid exposure, including CBD, can program long-lasting metabolic changes that only become apparent later in life.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Rat study with IP administration that does not reflect typical human oral CBD use. Only one dose tested. Only male offspring affected. Three-month follow-up in rats does not capture lifetime metabolic consequences. Unclear if this dose is comparable to human CBD use.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would oral CBD at consumer-relevant doses produce similar effects?
- ?Why are only males affected?
- ?Do the circadian rhythm gene changes contribute directly to glucose intolerance?
- ?Would the metabolic effects worsen with aging?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Male-specific glucose intolerance at 3 months after prenatal CBD
- Evidence Grade:
- Well-designed animal study with transcriptomic analysis, but single dose, IP route, and rat model limit clinical translation.
- Study Age:
- 2024 study
- Original Title:
- Gestational exposure to cannabidiol leads to glucose intolerance in 3-month-old male offspring.
- Published In:
- The Journal of endocrinology, 260(1) (2024)
- Authors:
- Vanin, Sebastian R(2), Lee, Kendrick(6), Nashed, Mina, Tse, Brennan, Sarikahya, Mohammed, Brar, Sukham, Tomy, Gregg, Lucas, Amica-Mariae, Tomy, Thane, Laviolette, Steven R, Arany, Edith J, Hardy, Daniel B
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05779
Evidence Hierarchy
Tests effects in animals (usually mice or rats), not humans.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Is CBD safe to use during pregnancy?
This rat study raises concerns. Despite no visible effects at birth, prenatal CBD exposure caused glucose intolerance in male offspring by 3 months of age, linked to altered liver gene expression. The effects were not apparent at birth.
How could prenatal CBD cause metabolic problems?
The study found altered expression of circadian rhythm clock genes and metabolic genes in the liver, suggesting CBD reprograms liver development in ways that impair glucose regulation later in life.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05779APA
Vanin, Sebastian R; Lee, Kendrick; Nashed, Mina; Tse, Brennan; Sarikahya, Mohammed; Brar, Sukham; Tomy, Gregg; Lucas, Amica-Mariae; Tomy, Thane; Laviolette, Steven R; Arany, Edith J; Hardy, Daniel B. (2024). Gestational exposure to cannabidiol leads to glucose intolerance in 3-month-old male offspring.. The Journal of endocrinology, 260(1). https://doi.org/10.1530/JOE-23-0173
MLA
Vanin, Sebastian R, et al. "Gestational exposure to cannabidiol leads to glucose intolerance in 3-month-old male offspring.." The Journal of endocrinology, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1530/JOE-23-0173
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Gestational exposure to cannabidiol leads to glucose intoler..." RTHC-05779. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/vanin-2024-gestational-exposure-to-cannabidiol
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.