CBD and Sport

Rojas-Valverde (2021)

With the aim of increasing performance, accelerating recovery or relieving pain, more and more athletes are relying on CBD products.

Since 2018, CBD has no longer been listed as a prohibited substance by international sports federations. Since then, the use of CBD products among athletes has been steadily increasing.

Among cyclists, runners, and triathletes, one in three has already used cannabinoids. Products containing THC are still banned by international sports organizations and can lead to positive doping tests.

CBD can interact with the endocannabinoid system, which is known to maintain homeostasis and to have anti-inflammatory and anxiolytic effects. Specifically, CBD could inhibit neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and proliferation that can result from exercise-induced fatigue or injury.

CBD appears to be indirectly involved in cortisol release and the regulation of overactive immune cells. Furthermore, CBD may help address gastrointestinal problems and skeletal injuries.

Initial studies are investigating CBD's pain-reducing and neuroprotective functions in the context of sports. CBD may be suitable as a means of preventing muscle soreness or treating swelling.

Sleep is particularly important for athletes' recovery. A lack of sleep can easily lead to overtraining. CBD is also suspected of having positive effects in this regard. Although there is evidence of short-term anxiety-reducing and mood-enhancing effects, these do not appear to be long-lasting.

Overall, the potential of CBD in competitive sports could be very diverse, however, further research is needed to clarify the relevant processes and effects.

Rojas-Valverde, D. (2021). Potential Role of Cannabidiol on Sports Recovery: A Narrative Review. Frontiers in Physiology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.722550

Isenmann et al. (2021)

CBD has not been listed as a prohibited substance by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) since 2018. It has been repeatedly shown to be safe and well-tolerated.

Initial studies have suggested potential effects of CBD on muscle soreness. In this study, young adults were given 60 mg of CBD immediately after their workout, while others received a placebo.

After 72 hours, significant differences in blood concentrations of creatine kinase and myoglobin were detected for the first time between participants in both groups. This finding suggests that after three days, the CBD group exhibited less muscle damage and that CBD contributed to faster regeneration.

The authors speculated that using CBD before training could lead to even more beneficial effects. Furthermore, the authors found performance improvements in certain exercises in the CBD group, while the placebo group showed a decline in performance.

Potential CBD effects are likely to be stronger with repeated use. Overall, the study provides evidence for a possible performance-enhancing and recovery-promoting effect of CBD.

Further studies are urgently needed to more accurately determine the purported effects of CBD.

Isenmann, E., Veit, S., Starke, L., Flenker, U., & Diel, P. (2021). Effects of Cannabidiol Supplementation on Skeletal Muscle Regeneration after Intensive Resistance Training. Nutrients, 13(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13093028

Venn and Sullivan (2020)

The scientific literature on CBD in sports is growing rapidly. Often, this literature focuses on individual cases and specific sports.

In most cases, CBD's function in regeneration, pain relief, and anti-inflammatory effects is discussed. Often, improved sleep, anxiety reduction, and stress management are also mentioned.

Overall, there is a lack of high-quality studies and solid scientific evidence on this topic.

Venn, B., & Sullivan, S.J. (2020). The Role of Cannabidiol in Professional Sports: A Scoping Review. New Zealand Journal of Sports Medicine, 47(2).