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Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
The Effect of Cannabidiol on Subjective Responses to Endurance Exercise: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Sports Medicine - Open, Vol.10, pp.1-15
2024
PMID: 38782848
Abstract
Background
Exercise is known to improve health. However, it can be unpleasant, often inducing negative feelings, or ‘affect’. Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-intoxicating constituent of the cannabis plant, has been reported to enhance the subjective experience of exercise; specifically, in trained individuals performing fixed-intensity endurance activity. Here, we investigated the effects of CBD on subjective responses to exercise under more ecologically valid conditions; namely, in recreationally active individuals performing self-paced endurance activity.
Methods
A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial was conducted at Griffith University between July 17 and August 28, 2023. Griffith University students studying sports nutrition were invited to take part, with eligible volunteers ≥ 18 years of age and able to perform endurance exercise. Participants ingested placebo or 150 mg CBD in two soft-gel capsules 90 min before completing a self-paced 25-lap (10 km) run around an outdoor athletics track (400 m, synthetic). The primary outcomes were affective valence during exercise, assessed on completion of laps 6, 12, 18 and 24 using the ‘Feelings Scale’, and positive and negative affect, assessed at baseline, pre-run and post-run using the ‘Positive and Negative Affect Schedule’. Exercise enjoyment, motivation and self-efficacy, the core features of the ‘runner’s high’ (i.e., euphoria, pain, anxiety, sedation), perceived exertion and run time were also assessed.
Results
Fifty-two participants were randomised and 51 were included in the final sample (n = 22 female; 22 [21–25] years). Exercise induced negative affect (i.e., at the time of undertaking) and increased pain. CBD did not counteract either response. In fact, CBD had no significant effects on any of the outcomes measured. In contrast, exercise, once completed, increased positive affect, and decreased negative affect and anxiety.
Conclusions
CBD (150 mg, oral) does not appear to enhance the subjective experience of self-paced endurance exercise in recreationally active individuals. Nor, however, does it appear to compromise it. These findings suggest that CBD use is safe under exercise conditions and unlikely to impede physical activity participation. Our study also reaffirms the powerful mood-enhancing effects of exercise.
Trial Registration
Registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (www.anzctr.org.au) on May 31, 2023 (Trial ID: ACTRN12623000593639).
Details
- Title
- The Effect of Cannabidiol on Subjective Responses to Endurance Exercise: A Randomised Controlled Trial
- Authors
- Danielle McCartney (Corresponding Author) - The University of SydneyChristopher Irwin (Author) - Griffith UniversityZeeta Bawa (Author) - The University of SydneyBlake Palmer (Author) - Griffith UniversityAyshe Sahinovic (Author) - The University of SydneyNathan Delang (Author) - Griffith UniversityGregory Cox (Author) - Bond UniversityBen Desbrow (Author) - Griffith UniversityNamson S. Lau (Author) - The University of SydneyIain McGregor (Author) - The University of Sydney
- Publication details
- Sports Medicine - Open, Vol.10, pp.1-15
- Publisher
- SpringerOpen
- Date published
- 2024
- DOI
- 10.1186/s40798-024-00727-3
- ISSN
- 2198-9761; 2199-1170
- PMID
- 38782848
- Copyright note
- This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
- Data Availability
- The deidentified participant data are available from Dr Danielle McCartney upon reasonable request (danielle.mccartney@sydney.edu.au).
- Grant note
- This study was funded by the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, a philanthropically funded center for medicinal cannabis research at the University of Sydney.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health - Nutrition & Dietetics
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991048698002621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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