Cannabidiol Supplementation Alleviates Anxiety, Mitigates Pain, Extends Endurance, And Facilitates Greater Exercise Exertion

Cannabidiol (CBD) has demonstrated pharmacological utility in various health measures, yet there is a paucity of data on CBD use in healthy humans as an analgesic, anxiolytic, or ergogenic supplement. PURPOSE: to determine if acute and chronic administration of CBD oil results in different measures of anxiety, aerobic exercise performance measures, and pain in young adults compared to control and placebo groups. METHODS: Adults (n = 23; 23 ± 4 y; 78 ± 18 kg; 1.7 ± 0.1 m) were recruited and randomly assigned to a CBD oil group (CBD), a control group of CBD-free hemp seed oil (CON), or a cannabis-free placebo (PLA). Acute (T1) CBD supplementation dose was 6 mg CBD/kg. PLA and CON T1 doses were volumes of water and hemp seed oil, respectively, equal to a corresponding CBD dose. Chronic (T2) CBD dose was 30 mg/d. T2 PLA and CON dose was empty gelatin capsules and hemp seed oil. After T1 dosing, participants completed the state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI), a treadmill VO2max test, and eccentric quadriceps contractions on an isokinetic dynamometer with pain assessment. T2 daily dosing then began for 30 days, concluding with the same battery of tests. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Cohen’s d for effect size. Error rate was set at p ≤ .05. RESULTS: STAI score was significantly lower in CBD vs. CON at T1 (29 ± 5 vs. 41 ± 9; p = .05) and vs. PLA and CON at T2 (28 ± 6 vs. 41 ± 12; p = .05, 44 ± 5; p = .01). VO2max RPE was significantly higher in CBD vs. PLA and CON at T1 (19 ± 1 vs. 16 ± 2; p = .05, 16 ± 2; p = .04) and vs. PLA at T2 (18 ± 1 vs. 16 ± 1; p = .03). Maximal blood lactate (mmol/L) was meaningfully greater in CBD vs. PLA at T1 and T2 (11.3 ± 3.1 vs. 7.5 ± 3.3; d = 0.5 and 12.9 ± 3.8 vs. 7.3 ± 3.5; d = 0.6). VO2max duration (min) was meaningfully greater in CBD vs. PLA and CON at T1 and T2 (14.8 ± 2.1 vs. 11.6 ± 2.7 and 12.0 ± 1.2; d = 0.6; 15.0 ± 1.9 vs. 11.8 ± 2.7 and 12.4 ± 1.3; d = 0.6). Quadricep pain was meaningfully less in CBD vs. PLA at T2 48 h post-exercise (6 ± 5 vs. 22 ± 18; d = 0.9). CONCLUSION: Acute and chronic CBD supplementation resulted in significant and meaningful reduction in anxiety and post-exercise muscle pain, while increasing VO2max test duration, perceived exertion, and maximal lactate compared to a placebo and hemp oil control. The data support CBD’s anxiolytic efficacy in preclinical trials, and may be an effective ergogenic aid by suppressing high-intensity exercise discomfort.