Cannabidiol (CBD) is among the non-psychoactive substances present within the Cannabis plant. Recent studies suggest that CBD can result in minor decreases in the symptoms of psychosis and anxiety when doses of comparatively high levels (300 or 1,500 mg) are consumed. Contrary to this, the average dosage of CBD taken by people who suffer from chronic pain ranges between 2 to 40 mg. Doses that are acute dose of up to 6,000 mg seem to be safe as well well tolerated, however, some patients report nausea, diarrhea, and headaches.

Recently, the over-the counter oral CBD has been targeted specifically at athletes, specifically within the U.K., Canada, and the U.S. The use of CBD for athletes was made easier through the recent delisting from WADA’s “Prohibited Liste.” Most frequent motives for using CBD by athletes included to boost recovery, increase sleep (unfortunately CBD is known to affect sleep quality) and to reduce anxiety.

A recent placebo-controlled, randomized pilot study looked at what the effect of acute CBD taken orally (300 mg) on psychological and physiological responses to intensive and submaximal training for endurance in males who have been trained to run.

Plasma levels during exercise are elevated. AEA concentrations. AEA can be described as an endogenous, cannabinoid generally produced by the body as a the response to endurance training. AEA is an anti-inflammatory and analgesic actions, which are designed to heal injuries caused by exercise. CBD oral CBD treatment decreased the levels in the blood of AEA. This effect is anticipated. The high doses of CBD can speed up the metabolism of endocannabinoids.

Exercise increased serum levels of biomarkers for the inflammation of the system, muscle damage and gastrointestinal harm. The increase in these indicators of injury to the body is normal following endurance exercise. CBD appears to block the pro-inflammatory increase that is induced by exercise proteins. In a surprising way, oral CBD might increase the severity of muscle injury that is a result of exercising. The use of CBD has may have slightly increased VO2 max which is an indication of how much oxygen that the body uses and absorbs during exercise.

The researchers concluded that the negative impacts of CBD on the efficiency of running are minor and unlikely to impact the aerobic performance. CBD appears to boost self-rated ratings of satisfaction in the first 40 minutes of submaximal training. CBD can improve the effects of exercising through its actions on various receptors in the brain and body which are involved in regulating mood and analgesia. There were no serious adverse reactions in this research.

The preliminary findings indicate that the acute consumption of CBD can alter important physiological and psychological reactions during exercise. The effects it has on VO2 max levels, feelings of enjoyment during exercise and the inflammation that results from exercise warrant research. The absence of clear negative results indicates that CBD will not affect the endurance performance of endurance-trained males, and therefore could have significance in the context of sports.