Author(s): FERREIRA-DA-CUNHA, M., PEDEN, D., YAXLEY, J., TAMAK, J., FISHER, D., NORRIS, K., CABLE, T., BAILEY, S., HEANEY, L., JAMES, L. , Institution: LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY , Country: UNITED KINGDOM, Abstract-ID: 2423

INTRODUCTION:
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid derived from the Cannabis Sativa plant. There are several proposed benefits of CBD, such as reduced pain, inflammation and anxiety, as well as improved sleep. These benefits may be important to athletes, and research is required to examine if CBD supplementation can influence exercise performance. We therefore aimed to examine whether a single 600 mg CBD dose affects endurance exercise performance.
METHODS:
Twelve healthy active adults (2 female, 10 male, age 25 ± 2 y, height 1.76 ± 0.1 m, mass 75.1 ± 12.2 kg, V̇O2peak 43 ± 7 mL/kg/min) visited the laboratory on four occasions, completing a V̇O2peak test/workload challenge (WC) familiarisation, a full familiarisation, and two experimental trials in a double-blind, randomised order, with exercise on an electronically braked cycle ergometer. Participants consumed gelatine capsules containing 600 mg (CBD) or 0 mg (PLA) of CBD in 6 mL hemp oil, 30 min after a standardised high calorie breakfast. After another 150 min rest, participants cycled at 60% peak aerobic power for 8 min (SS), followed by 5 min rest and then the WC. In the WC, participants completed as much work as possible in 15 min, during which they could adjust work rate, but were blinded to all data except time. Expired gas was collected in the final minute of SS, with rating of perceived exertion (RPE) measured post-SS and post-TT. Capillary blood was collected at 0 h, 3 h, post-SS and post-WC and analysed for concentrations of electrolytes, lactate, glucose, and haemoglobin. Subjective scales measuring gastrointestinal comfort, thirst, nausea, and headache were completed at 0 and 3 h.
RESULTS:
There were no significant interaction effects for blood electrolyte (P ≥ 0.270), glucose (P = 0.972) or haemoglobin (P = 0.091) concentrations, but blood lactate concentration post-WC was higher in CBD (CBD 12.64 ± 2.8 mmol/L; PLA 11.35 ± 3.0 mmol/L; P = 0.021) and RPE post-SS was lower in CBD (CBD 11 ± 1; PLA 12 ± 1; P = 0.025). In the WC, total work (CBD 164.8 ± 44.2 kJ; PLA 162.4 ± 42.9 kJ; P = 0.434), mean heart rate (CBD 173 ± 17 beat/min; PLA 172 ± 18 beat/min; P = 0.572) and post-WC RPE (CBD 20 ± 1; PLA 19 ± 1; P = 0.166) were not different between trials. Additionally, subjective measures of gastrointestinal comfort, thirst, nausea and headache were not different between trials (P ≥ 0.339).
CONCLUSION:
These data suggest that CBD, even at doses of 600 mg is unlikely to acutely influence high-intensity endurance performance, although CBD may influence substrate use at high intensities and perceived exertion at moderate intensities. Future studies should seek to explore metabolic responses to endurance exercise in more detail to understand these effects.