Does CBD Cause Liver Damage: Analysis of A New Study!

By  //  August 15, 2020

Although the market of CBD or cannabidiol products has highly grown in the past couple of years, CBD is still an under-researched product that requires more tests and studies.

Although the market of CBD or cannabidiol products has highly grown in the past couple of years , CBD is still an under-researched product that requires more tests and studies.

It is a non-psychoactive therapeutic component of the Cannabis Sativa plant.

CBD oil is derived from the hemp- variety of the plant and is one of the most abundantly present phytocannabinoids in the plant.

CBD is known for its curative effects on the body and its healing effects on a number of ailments like depression, anxiety, obesity, epilepsy and many more. 

The 2018 Farm Bill legalized the production of hemp and in turn of CBD as well leading to an explosion in the production of CBD products. 

From CBD infused coffees to CBD facials in beauty parlors, CBD can be seen gaining popularity everywhere. 

But despite the rising demand of CBD there still remains a lot of unknown about this cannabinoid. 

All the research done on CBD mostly portrays it as a miracle compound with a lot of short term benefits but much is yet to be unearthed about the long term effects of CBD.

A recent study claims that CBD use can cause liver damage. 

Is there any need for you to panic? Let’s take a look at the study in brief and find out!

What Is The New Study All About? 

A group of researchers from the University of Arkansas studied the effects of CBD on a group of mice.

These 8-week old mice were given various doses of CBD to test the outcome.

The mice given little to moderate doses of CBD were able to metabolize and tolerate it well.

But the mice given CBD in large amounts that is a human equivalent of 200 milligrams, showed symptoms of liver damage.

Also, mice given small doses of CBD frequently also showed signs of liver toxicity. 

Although such high doses of CBD is not recommended for even human consumption, this study clearly shows the toxic effects of CBD overdose and points out the need for further studies.

Is There Any Need To Panic Just Yet?

Although the results of the study make CBD sound possibly risky, there is no need to worry yet. 

While the users of CBD should know the possible side-effects of the overuse of CBD, the quantity of CBd the mice were fed was very large even for humans.

CBD can only cause any liver damage if you don’t stick to the recommended dosage and consume large quantities of it .

Also, administration of CBD more frequently than otherwise advised can also have some risks.

So make sure to abide by the right dose of CBD to be safe from any adverse effects of it on your body.

Mixing CBD with Other Drugs Also Have a Negative Impact On Your Body

CBD has a very few known side-effects, one of which is that it does not mix well with some medication and drugs. 

CBD when administered orally and ingested in good quantities interacts directly with the group of liver enzymes called Cytochromes P450.

CBD can alter their functioning temporarily, affecting the ability of the body to metabolize certain substances.

The problem is that CBD is broken down using P450 enzymes. When CBD is consumed it uses these enzymes for its own metabolism stopping these from breaking down the other drugs or substances.

This results in a delay in breaking down the other drugs you may have consumed apart from CBD and they stay in your system much longer.

CBD has the same effect on your body as a grapefruit. So make sure to check your medications for a grapefruit warning or consult a doctor before going for CBD.

This problem can happen in reverse too. 

There are some other drugs apart from CBD which inhibit the CYP3A4 enzyme of the group P450. 

While on these medications, your body can’t work to metabolize CBD because the enzyme responsible for this is being used up by some other drug.

In both cases, if CBD or any other drug is being processed by your body too slowly, it can cause adverse side-effects like vomiting, dizziness, nausea, drowsiness, fatigue or diarrhea.

Some Medications Which Doesn’t Bode Well With CBD are:

■ Antibiotics

■ Antihistamines

■ Antidepressants

■ Antimicrobials

■ Blood Thinners

■ Anticancer Medicine

■ Cholesterol Balancing Drugs

■ Antiepileptic Drugs

■ Medicine for Erectile Dysfunction

■ Blood Pressure Medicine

■ Immunosuppressants

■ Pain Medications

■ Gastrointestinal Medications

Make sure to consult your doctor before CBD consumption if you are on any of the aforementioned medications. 

Is CBD Worth All Your Research?

Even though high doses of CBD can be linked with certain side-effects on the body, if taken in proper quantities CBD does have a lot of health benefits.

CBD shares almost all the properties of Marijuana or THC , including the benefits.
But CBD can treat many of your ailments without the intoxicating effect that is associated with THC.

Following are the major health benefits of CBD- 

■ CBD can help with Cancer symptoms

CBD Oil has proven to reduce pain and inflammation related to cancer and cancer treatment.
CBD can provide relief from chemotherapy-induced nausea, vomiting, appetite suppression, pain, mood swings and sleep deprivation in cancer patients.

A 2013 review showed that CBD has anti-proliferative and promotes apoptosis in cancer cells while sparing the other cell types.
Cannabinoids like CBD are known to hamper cancer cell migration and formation of new blood vessels in a tumor.

■ CBD is Anti-Inflammatory and a Pain Reliever

CBD relieves you of pain by interacting with the cannabinoid receptors of the endocannabinoid system of your body.

This system of your body is responsible for your immune system response, appetite and sleep.

CBD interacts with the neurotransmitters of the ECS system and helps reduce inflammation and pain.

CBD creams are one of such CBD based products that can efficiently and naturally help with pain relief. 

■ CBD can help with Anxiety & Depression

It is known for its antidepressant and anti-anxiety properties. Anxiety and depression are two of the most common psychotic problems which a large number of the world population suffer from.

These ailments are treated usually with pharmaceutical drugs which can have a lot of side-effects.

CBD edibles can work for stress, anxiety and depression naturally and safely.
CBD acts on the receptors in the brain responsible for production of serotonin and aids in increasing its production as low levels of serotonin is a leading cause for depression. 

■ CBD is Neuroprotective

CBD has been proven to recover memory deficits induced by iron accumulation in the brain.  This is responsible for a number of neurological diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimers.

CBD also promotes the functioning of mitochondria in the cells and increases neuron health.
CBD has been known to help patients with psychosis related to neurodegenerative processes.

Conclusion

CBD is in all a beneficial compound, used popularly for its numerous health benefits.

In recommended small dosages, CBD is extremely advantageous, but if consumed in high doses can be fatal for your liver health.

CBD should also not be mixed with other drugs that have a grapefruit warning.
If you have a health condition or are currently on some medications, you should talk to a doctor before buying any CBD product.