Can CBD oil raise cholesterol?

There is insufficient evidence to prove that CBD oil can increase cholesterol levels. However, initial research points out to CBD oil for lowering cholesterol levels through its lipid uptake regulation. This article helps you know what impacts CBD oil has on heart disease and one of its risk factors, high cholesterol levels.

CBD oil may not raise cholesterol levels as there is insufficient scientific evidence to prove this. Still, a handful of studies show that CBD oil might lower blood cholesterol levels and other risk factors for heart disease. For instance, studies find it therapeutic and claim that it may help with stress and inflammation, both of which ate related to heart disease. Still, it is worth noting that the FDA has not recommended CBD oil for reducing cholesterol levels. Peer into this article to know more about CBD oil and cholesterol levels.

The Basics of CBD

Since the passing of the Farm Bill in 2018, CBD has become part of the mainstream and is attracting major talks. CBD shops and dispensaries are found almost in every state in which it is fully legal. Consequently, there is every need to understand it. According to Massi et al. (2006) and Bauer et al. (2020), CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid in hemp plants, although it can also come from marijuana. Cannabinoids are chemical compounds in cannabis plants and are more than 100 in nature. CBD is popular of the 100+ cannabinoids for two reasons; it is non-psychoactive and it is linked to therapeutic effects. Schlienz et al. (2018) described THC as a psychoactive cannabinoid that causes a high effect when smoking weed. Besides, Watt & Karl (2017) state that CBD boasts therapeutic effects that many fans want to tap into to.

CBD Oil and Types

There are many CBD delivery methods that are basically dilute forms of the cannabinoid. The body cannot take CBD as a compound but when combined with base carriers like hempseed oil, the cells can absorb it. CBD oils and tinctures are almost the same, only that the latter features alcohol as the base liquid. Consequently, CBD tinctures may be bitter and less earthy but they last longer because the alcohol ensures longevity. JustCBD oils and tinctures are administered sublingually for faster absorption, although you can also administer them orally, which is almost effective. CBD oils and tinctures come in the following types;

Full-spectrum CBD; has CBD with a whole range of cannabinoids, including CBC, CBT, CBN, and THC. VanDolah et al. (2019) alluded to a full entourage to full-spectrum CBD oil since it has many compounds, including terpenes and flavonoids.
Isolate-based CBD; unlike full-spectrum CBD, isolates feature pure CBD without terpenes, flavonoids, or additional cannabinoids. They are best for CBD novices who are starting the CBD regime and want nothing to do with the earthiness of terpenes.
Broad-spectrum CBD; if you want to enjoy a THC-free full entourage effect of multiple compounds, you can opt for broad-spectrum CBD oil that has terpenes, flavonoids, and other cannabinoids.

Cholesterol Levels and Heart Disease

There are two types of cholesterols; low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol or high-density lipoprotein (HDL), also called good cholesterol. According to Cleveland, high cholesterol levels are linked to heart disease. It mentions that when the total cholesterol levels are more than 240 mg/DL, heart disease risk increases. This translates to more than 160 mg/DL of LDL and less than 40 mg/DL of HDL. Thus, there is every need for people to control blood cholesterol levels by watching their diets, reducing stress, and managing weight.

Does CBD Oil Raise Cholesterol Levels?

This article is about the effects of CBD oil on blood cholesterol levels: does CBD oil raise blood cholesterol levels? So far, there is insufficient evidence to prove that taking CBD oil might increase your cholesterol levels. However, some studies suggest that taking the cannabinoid might lower blood cholesterol levels. For instance, a Riverside Clinic (2018) report revealed that following the CBD-endocannabinoid receptor relationship, the cannabinoid can reduce blood cholesterol levels. The report shows that CBD controls lipid uptake, reducing how much the cells can take in.

CBD Oil and Inflammation

High blood pressure and cholesterol levels are risk factors for heart disease, and so is inflammation. The Riverside Clinic (2018) report quoted earlier shows that inflammation may attract immune cells to the walls of arteries and as they keep building up, the risk of heart diseases increases. Thus, many medications try to control heart disease risk by fighting inflammation. Can CBD oil reduce inflammation? According to Hammell et al. (2016), CBD oil has powerful anti-inflammatory effects. Still, more studies are needed to prove that CBD oil can fight inflammation of immune cells to lower heart disease risk.

CBD Oil and Stress

Controlling heart disease risk calls for managing stress. Although how exactly stress influences heart disease is yet to be established, too much stress has always been linked to high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, increasing heart disease risks. Can CBD oil treat stress? According to García-Gutiérrez et al. (2020), CBD oil can fight depression, anxiety, and depression, all the more why people use it to manage these conditions. Still, this does not mean that you have to replace your medication with CBD oil; the FDA has not approved CBD oil for treating stress and depression.

Is CBD Oil Safe?

Many want to know if CBD oil is safe and if they should opt for it. If you need the cannabinoid for whatever reason, knowing how safe it is must be critical for you. According to Corroon & Phillips (2018), CBD oil has a good safety profile, especially when administered in the right dosages. Many perceive CBD oil as safe but this is not always the case. Bass & Linz (2020) reported a case where ingesting too many CBD gummies led to detrimental effects on a man. Besides, the limited CBD studies are a problem on their own. Moreover, the CBD industry is largely unregulated and some brands offer substandard goods. However, JustCBD offers high-quality CBD gummies, tinctures, creams, and vapes that give you confidence as you use them.

Conclusion

There is insufficient evidence to prove that CBD oil raise blood cholesterol levels. However, some research finds the cannabinoid great for lowering blood cholesterol levels. Besides, other studies link CBD oil to managing heart disease risk factors. Peer into this article to understand the gist of all this.

References

Bass, J., & Linz, D. R. (2020). A case of toxicity from cannabidiol gummy ingestion. Cureus, 12(4).

Bauer, B. A. (2020). What Are The Benefits Of CBD–And Is It Safe To Use? In Mayo Clinic.

Cleveland Clinic. Cholesterol: High Cholesterol Disease.

Corroon, J., & Phillips, J. A. (2018). A Cross-Sectional Study of Cannabidiol Users. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 3(1), 152–161.

García-Gutiérrez, M. S., Navarrete, F., Gasparyan, A., Austrich-Olivares, A., Sala, F., & Manzanares, J. (2020). Cannabidiol: a potential new alternative for the treatment of anxiety, depression, and psychotic disorders. Biomolecules, 10(11), 1575.

Hammell, D. C., Zhang, L. P., Ma, F., Abshire, S. M., McIlwrath, S. L., Stinchcomb, A. L., & Westlund, K. N. (2016). Transdermal cannabidiol reduces inflammation and pain-related behaviors in a rat model of arthritis. European journal of pain (London, England), 20(6), 936–948.

Massi, P., Vaccani, A., Bianchessi, S., Costa, B., Macchi, P., & Parolaro, D. (2006). The non-psychoactive cannabidiol triggers caspase activation and oxidative stress in human glioma cells. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences CMLS, 63(17), 2057-2066.

Riverside Village Clinic. (2018). What Is CBD Oil? Does It Really Work?

Schlienz, N. J., Lee, D. C., Stitzer, M. L., & Vandrey, R. (2018). The effect of high-dose dronabinol (oral THC) maintenance on cannabis self-administration. Drug and alcohol dependence, 187, 254-260.

VanDolah, H. J., Bauer, B. A., & Mauck, K. F. (2019, September). Clinicians’ guide to cannabidiol and hemp oils. In Mayo Clinic Proceedings (Vol. 94, No. 9, pp. 1840-1851). Elsevier.

Watt, G., & Karl, T. (2017). In vivo evidence for therapeutic properties of cannabidiol (CBD) for Alzheimer’s disease. Frontiers in pharmacology, 8, 20.

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Nataly Komova

Nutritionist, Registered Dietitian at bedfordvape.co.uk

Nutritionist, Registered Dietitian – Bluffton University, MS

In today’s world, people’s eating and exercise patterns have changed, and it is often lifestyle that is the cause of many diet-related illnesses. I believe that each of us is unique – what works for one does not help another. What is more, it can even be harmful. I am interested in food psychology, which studies a person’s relationship with their body and food, explains our choices and desires for specific products, the difficulty of maintaining optimal body weight, as well as the influence of various internal and external factors on appetite.