The Effects of an Acute Dose of Cannabidiol on Health and Two-Mile Time Trial Performance - A Pilot Study

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Aran

Objective: Explore how an acute dose of cannabidiol (CBD) influences physical and mental health and running performance in a group of runners. Methods: A randomized, cross-over design compared 300 mg CBD versus placebo in two separate visits; participants rested for 2 h, completed anxiety and vital sign measures, then performed a maximal 2-mile treadmill run with HR, RPE, and blood lactate recorded during and after. GI symptoms were assessed post-trial. Results: CBD increased calm and relaxed feelings and reduced RPE at mile 1 without changing performance time or GI severity. Conclusions: A 300 mg CBD dose 2 h before a 2-mile run may improve perceived outcomes without impairing performance or increasing GI upset.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages13

Reading Time33 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

1. Introduction

Cannabidiol and research context

Potential mechanisms and anxiety reduction

Dose timing and perceptual outcomes

Article The Effects of an Acute Dose of Cannabidiol on Health and Two-Mile Time Trial Performance—A Pilot Study Elyssa R. Bell, Brandon Elias, Seth M. Gutierrez and Laura K. Stewart * Academic Editor: Diana E. Roopchand Received: 11 November 2025 Revised: 12 December 2025 Accepted: 18 December 2025 Published: 20 December 2025 Copyright: © 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. Department of Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Dietetics, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO 80639, USA; [elyssa.bell@unco.edu](elyssa.bell@unco.edu) (E.R.B.); [belias4105@outlook.com](belias4105@outlook.com) (B.E.); [seth.gutierrez@unco.edu](seth.gutierrez@unco.edu) (S.M.G.) * Correspondence: [laura.stewart@unco.edu](laura.stewart@unco.edu) Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of an acute dose of cannabidiol (CBD) on physical and mental health, as well as running performance in a group of runners. Methods: This study used a randomized, cross-over design where individuals were given CBD (CBD-T) or placebo (PLA-T) capsules on two separate occasions. During their first visit, the subjects consumed 300 mg of either placebo or CBD capsules and were then instructed to sit quietly for 2 h. Then, participants filled out a State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and completed measures of resting systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), blood lactate (BL), and heart rate variability (HRV) . Next, participants completed a 2-mile treadmill run as fast as possible. During each run, HR, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and BL were measured during and after the run. Participants completed a gastrointestinal (GI) symptom questionnaire immediately after the 2-mile time trial. Results: Participants (N = 12; 4 males, 8 females) averaged 25.5 years ± 3.34 years of age. Mean CBD-T reported increased feelings of calm (21% p = 0.04) and relaxed (22%, p = 0.02) when compared to PLA-T. There were no differences in the severity of GI symptoms, SBP, DBP, or HRV between the treatments. The CBD-T experienced an 8% reduction in average RPE at mile 1 of the run compared with PLA-T (p = 0.05) . There was no significant difference in run performance time. Conclusions: An acute dose of CBD (300 mg) taken 2 h before a 2-mile run may potentially benefit runners in shorter distance competitions by increasing calm and relaxed feelings and reducing perceived effort at the halfway point without impairing performance or increasing gastrointestinal upset. Keywords: endurance; cannabis; perceived exertion 1. Introduction Cannabidiol is the most well-known non-psychoactive compound in cannabis [1] . In 2023, the CBD market size accounted for USD 22.8 billion and continues to grow with an estimated growth rate of 17.9% between 2024 and 2032 in the United States [2] . While this attention is noteworthy, it is concerning that most of the claims associated with CBD are not adequately backed by science. Cannabidiol may benefit athletes in competition and performance. A previous randomized, controlled study examined the effects of CBD on performance outcomes in nine trained males. On two separate occasions, athletes ran 60 min at a fixed intensity 1.5 h after consuming either the placebo or 300 mg of CBD (Run 1), and then an incremental run to exhaustion (Run 2) . Cannabidiol increased VO2, ratings of pleasure, and blood lactate (BL) during Run 1 compared to the placebo. In the aforementioned study, when Run 1 was compared with Run 2, there were no differences in heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), blood glucose, or respiratory exchange ratio [3] . Interestingly, although physiological strain appeared elevated based on VO 2 and lactate responses, participants reported exercise as more enjoyable, a meaningful outcome for performance ps

FAQs

What was the main objective of the pilot study?

To examine how an acute 300 mg dose of cannabidiol affects physical and mental health as well as 2-mile running performance in runners.

How was the study designed and what did participants do?

It used a randomized cross-over design where participants received CBD or placebo on two separate occasions, rested for 2 hours, completed anxiety and health measures, then completed a maximal 2-mile treadmill run.

What outcomes improved with CBD compared with placebo?

CBD increased feelings of calm and relaxed states and reduced perceived exertion at mile 1, while GI symptoms, cardiovascular measures, heart rate variability, and run performance time showed no significant differences.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Aran