CBD may help athletes' performance, study shows

For high-level athletes and those striving to achieve this goal, the search for performance-enhancing substances is eternal and challenging. Supplements should comply with anti-doping laws, be safe, and preferably natural.

CBD is currently generating discussion among athletes claiming varied benefits such as accelerated injury recovery, deeper sleep, and reduced muscle pain.

While many organizations consider the other main cannabinoid in cannabis, THC, an illicit substance, the World Anti-Doping Agency allows the pure use of CBD. It is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid with anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anxiolytic, and analgesic properties and may represent a legal supplement to aid athletes.

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CBD products aimed at recreational and elite athletes, such as cbdMD and fourfivecbd, are already being adopted.

But is the power of CBD just hype? Is there substantial evidence that CBD can offer athletes that indescribable edge? Or are these claims simply a public relations highlight for a trending cannabinoid?

What do studies say about CBD?

According to a study released this year, CBD may help athletes in various ways.

Reduced inflammation and pain

A 2020 review published in Sports Medicine analyzed preclinical studies in animals and CBD clinical trials in non-athlete populations. The authors found that CBD may promote potentially beneficial physiological, biochemical, and psychological effects for athletes.

One of the main conclusions of the review is that CBD may help alleviate inflammatory pain associated with tissue damage and neuropathic pain caused by nerve damage or irritation. This could signal a significant advantage for endurance athletes: repetitive long-distance exercises can trigger inflammation and irritation in peripheral nerves.

Protection against gastrointestinal damage

The above Sports Medicine study also found that CBD may protect against gastrointestinal damage. Athletes who regularly engage in strenuous activities may reduce the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the gastrointestinal tract (GI).

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GI stress can negatively influence exercise performance and recovery due to nausea, vomiting, and impaired nutritional absorption. Preclinical research has shown that CBD can reduce tissue damage and restore gut permeability.

Bone health

The above authors provided additional evidence that CBD may assist in the deposition of healthy bones and help heal fractures. Healthy bones are essential for athletes, and bone health is sometimes compromised by traumatic injuries or inadequate energy availability.

Sports performance anxiety management

CBD may also help athletes control sports performance anxiety, according to Sports Medicine studies. Anxiety before a competition can cause sleep loss, increase energy expenditure, and impair nutritional intake.

According to the review authors, studies in non-athlete individuals indicated that CBD may alleviate anxiety in stressful situations. CBD may be even more effective when combined with psychological interventions such as cognitive-behavioral therapies.

Neuroprotective qualities to protect against brain injury

Another 2020 study published in Pharmacological Research also weighed the validity and applicability of existing CBD research for athletes. These authors reached similar conclusions but with a slightly different emphasis.

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The neuroprotective properties of CBD were highlighted for its potential to neutralize damage that can occur after a sports-related concussion. These concussions are considered a variation of mild traumatic brain injury and can lead to harmful long-term complications such as neuronal damage.

The study authors emphasize recent research in an animal demonstrating that CBD oil can help treat pain, aggression, and depression associated with mild traumatic brain injury. CBD oil also helped neutralize neuronal damage in the brain's prefrontal cortex. The cannabinoid also inhibits oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, providing additional neuroprotective benefits.

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These are promising findings as there are currently no effective pharmacological therapies available for treating mild traumatic brain injury. Repetitive traumatic brain injuries, common in contact sports, can also lead to chronic neurodegenerative diseases such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

Sleep-wake cycles

The 2020 Pharmacological Research study also highlighted CBD's potential to alter sleep. Animal research found that CBD can be a sleep-inducing agent and a wake promoter. This ability to produce opposite effects - known as biphasic effects - depends on the dose used and seems to work more successfully when the natural sleep-wake rhythm is disturbed.

Lower doses of CBD appear to promote wakefulness, while higher doses seem to sedate and induce sleep. Both properties can be beneficial: while the quest for a solid night's sleep is invaluable before a big game, staying awake can also enhance the performance of athletes competing in ultramarathons or endurance events.

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But do any of these advantages come at a cost to on-field performance? Enhanced recovery and deep sleep may seem appealing, but not if they result in compromised balance or coordination.

According to the Sports Medicine study, however, the answer is no. Researchers assessed clinical trials investigating the impact of CBD on cognitive and psychomotor function and found that current data suggest it is unlikely that CBD has a negative impact on healthy individuals.

What do experts and athletes say about CBD?

For Dr. Elaine Burns, Chief Medical Officer of the Southwest Medical Marijuana Physicians Group and founder of Dr. Burns' ReLeaf CBD products, CBD holds promise for athletes. Burns cautions, however, that current knowledge is limited because most data are based on animal studies where animals tend to receive high doses of CBD.

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“There is much to learn about translating animal dosing to humans,” she said. That said, the potential benefits are abundant, especially when it comes to treating and reducing inflammation.

“CBD can help athletes in recovery by reducing inflammation and aiding in muscle relaxation,” Burns said. “It is an anti-inflammatory that acts by reducing pro-inflammatory markers in the body. There is also research showing that CBD is effective in combating neuroinflammation, making CBD interesting for athletes in sports like soccer or boxing, where concussions are common.”

For athletes curious to try CBD, Burns advises opting for sublingual tinctures.

“I think sublingually administered tincture should be the preferred method. This way, CBD enters your system faster and has higher bioavailability so the dose can be reduced.”

For Stu Kam, a jiu-jitsu athlete and owner of ATH Organics, CBD gummies represent a non-negotiable part of his supplement regimen.

“As a Brazilian jiu-jitsu athlete and competitor, CBD has been a staple in my training regimen to help with my recovery and specifically my rest,” Kam said.

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He continued: “Every night I take 25mg of CBD gummies to help me sleep after training. Before using CBD, I had trouble falling asleep after training, which eventually led to poor recovery. Since I started taking it, I've noticed much deeper sleep and the ability to train at my full potential the next day.”

The final word

As is often the case with cannabis research, more data on human populations are needed for more conclusive results. The authors of the Sports Medicine and Pharmacological Research studies emphasize the preliminary nature of their findings. While current data is very promising, clinical research in athlete populations will provide more definitive insights into the usefulness of CBD.

Fortunately, it seems that these research initiatives are already underway. In 2019, Aurora Cannabis partnered with the UFC to develop clinical research on CBD, athlete wellness, and recovery, and more research is certainly on the horizon. Expect to see more studies unfolding in this space in the near future.

Source: Emma Stone/Leafly