Research study · Sports Medicine - Open · 2025
The Acute Effects of Cannabidiol on Physiological and Subjective Responses to Endurance Exercise: A Dose-Ranging Randomised Controlled Crossover Trial
Verified on PubMed Oxford CEBM Level 1B: Randomized Controlled Trial
A 2025 randomized controlled trial in Sports Medicine - Open tested cbd in exercise. It made no difference. CBD did not change how athletes' bodies responded during exercise or how they felt. This study suggests that for athletes seeking performance enhancement or recovery benefits from acute CBD use at common doses, expectations should be adjusted.
In plain language
Study overview
This study looked at how cannabidiol (CBD), a compound from cannabis plants, affects athletes during endurance exercise. Researchers compared how CBD and a placebo affected athletes' physical responses and how they felt during exercise. The study aimed to see if CBD could help with recovery or performance.
Findings
It made no difference. CBD did not change how athletes' bodies responded during exercise or how they felt. There was no evidence that CBD helped with recovery either.
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The deeper readScientific analysis
Background: Athletes use cannabidiol (CBD), a non-intoxicating constituent of Cannabis sativa L., to enhance recovery and manage other conditions, but whether CBD influences performance-related outcomes remains unclear. This study investigated the acute effects of a low (50 mg) and moderate (300 mg) dose of CBD on physiological and subjective responses to endurance exercise in trained runners. Results: A randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial was conducted at the University of Sydney between 24 October 2022 and 4 March 2024. Twenty-five participants (16 male; VO2max = 53.1 ± 7.5 mL·min·kg−1) received 0 (placebo), 50 or 300 mg CBD 1.5 h prior to a 60-min submaximal treadmill run followed by an incremental run to volitional exhaustion. Neither dose altered subjective responses during the submaximal run, or enjoyment, mood or anxiety after exercise (p's > 0.05). CBD had limited effects on exercise physiology and performance: heart rate, VO2, VO2peak and time to exhaustion were unchanged (p's > 0.05). However, 300 mg decreased respiratory exchange ratio during the submaximal run (p = 0.030) and 50 mg increased blood glucose after the incremental run (p = 0.003). No dose altered muscle damage markers (creatine, myoglobin). A Treatment × Time × Sex interaction was found for lipopolysaccharide, with higher concentrations in females after the incremental run on 50 mg (p = 0.032) but not 300 mg. Conclusions: Acute CBD (50 mg, 300 mg) does not appear to alter the subjective experience of submaximal exercise, impact endurance performance or have compelling physiological effects; use by athletes is unlikely to be ergolytic or ergogenic at low to moderate doses.
The paper
Citation
Sahinovic A, Lau NS, Sabag A, Gordon R, Cox AJ, Walker K, et al. The Acute Effects of Cannabidiol on Physiological and Subjective Responses to Endurance Exercise: A Dose-Ranging Randomised Controlled Crossover Trial. Sports Medicine - Open (2025). PubMed 40839290 · DOI
Read the abstract as published
BACKGROUND: Athletes report using cannabidiol (CBD), a non-intoxicating constituent of Cannabis sativa L., to enhance post-exercise recovery and manage other health conditions (e.g., poor sleep, anxiety, concussion). However, whether CBD influences performance-related outcomes remains unclear. This study investigated the acute effects of a low, nutraceutical (50 mg) and moderate, therapeutic (300 mg) dose of CBD on physiological and subjective responses to endurance exercise in trained runners. RESULTS: A randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical trial was conducted at the University of Sydney between 24th October 2022 and 4th March 2024. Twenty-five participants (16 male; V ˙ O2max = 53.1 ± 7.5 mL·min kg-1) received either 0 (placebo), 50 or 300 mg CBD 1.5 h prior to completing a 60-min, submaximal intensity (~ 70% V ˙ O2max) treadmill run (RUN 1), followed by an incremental run to volitional exhaustion (RUN 2). Neither dose of CBD altered subjective responses (i.e., affective valence, enjoyment, perceived exertion, pain) during RUN 1, nor enjoyment, mood or anxiety following RUN 1 and 2 (p's > 0.05). CBD also had a limited effect on exercise physiology and performance, with heart rate, exercise efficiency (i.e., V ˙ O2), V ˙ O2peak and time to exhaustion (TTE) unchanged relative to placebo (p's > 0.05). However, 300 mg CBD decreased the respiratory exchange ratio during RUN 1 (p = 0.030) and 50 mg CBD increased blood glucose upon cessation of RUN 2 (p = 0.003), compared to placebo. There was no effect of either dose on plasma concentrations of muscle damage markers, creatine and myoglobin (p's > 0.05), but a Treatment x Time x Sex interaction was identified for the gastrointestinal barrier function marker, lipopolysaccharide, with post hoc analyses revealing higher concentrations in females Post RUN 2 on 50 mg (p = 0.032), but not 300mg CBD (p = 1.000), compared to placebo. CONCLUSIONS: CBD (50 mg, 300 mg; acute) does not appear to alter the subjective experience of submaximal intensity exercise, impact endurance performance (i.e., TTE) or have compelling effects on physiological responses to exercise. Use of CBD by athletes is, therefore, unlikely to be ergolytic or ergogenic at low to moderate doses. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was approved by the Sydney Local Health District's Human Research Ethics Committee (2021/ ETH11945; X21-0392) and registered prospectively with the Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12622000717752).
Abstract text as indexed by PubMed for this identifier.
Limitations the authors noted
Multiple outcomes assessed, increasing chance of Type 1 error; some significant findings may be spurious. Large inter-individual variability in plasma CBD concentrations. Plasma CBD may have been low during early RUN 1; peak concentrations occurred within the exercise period. Wide age range (19-44 years) and unbalanced sex distribution (16 male, 9 female); LPS sex finding based on small female subgroup. Exercise protocol not designed to induce extensive muscle damage; post-exercise window may have missed peak CK and myoglobin. Results apply to healthy, endurance-trained runners; effects in clinical populations or performance-anxious athletes not tested. Only acute single doses tested; chronic use and other THC/CBD ratios not examined. Two of 25 participants did not achieve full standardisation on one item (sleep duration); minor deviations.
In practice
Why this matters
This study suggests that for athletes seeking performance enhancement or recovery benefits from acute CBD use at common doses, expectations should be adjusted as no meaningful advantages were found.
Frequently asked questions
Clinical Questions & Answers
What were the primary clinical findings regarding Cannabis and Affect?
It made no difference. CBD did not change how athletes' bodies responded during exercise or how they felt. There was no evidence that CBD helped with recovery either.
What study limitations or clinical safeguards should patients keep in mind?
Multiple outcomes assessed, increasing chance of Type 1 error; some significant findings may be spurious. Large inter-individual variability in plasma CBD concentrations. Plasma CBD may have been low during early RUN 1; peak concentrations occurred within the exercise period.
Browse related research
Condition: Affect Condition: Exercise Condition: Exercise recovery Topic: Cannabis Topic: CBD
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Reviewed by Dr. Caplan on October 23, 2026.
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