Of all the different cannabinoid compounds, CBDA has one of the highest absorption properties of them all. CBDA has higher absorption than CBD or THC, and thus, you need to take less of it to reach the same blood concentration.
For example, 50mg of CBDA taken orally, will yield about the same blood concentration as 250mg of CBD.
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Table of Contents
- Why is absorption important?
- What are the benefits of CBDA with higher absorption?
- Why does CBDA have enhanced absorption?
- Why is Natural Spectrum CBDA important?
Why is absorption important?
For CBDA or CBD to exert its benefits, it needs to get into the blood stream, if it has low absorption, you will need to take a larger amount to get a beneficial effect.
In many clinical trials testing the benefits of CBD, researchers and clinicians often use very high doses. For example, in epileptic patients, the doses can range from 1000mg to 2000mg per day to get significant control over their seizures.
What are the benefits of CBDA with higher absorption?
Since you need to take less CBDA than CBD to reach similar blood concentrations, this will save you money. A 1000mg bottle of CBD may cost $60, but it only has 4 doses if you take 250mg per day to reach a benefit. A 1000mg bottle of CBDA that costs $60 will have 20 doses of 50mg that yield the same blood concentrations!
CBDA and Weight Loss
Researchers have published a study on the effects of CBDA and obesity in mice showing it can improve weight loss and lipid profiles. Mice were fed a high caloric diet increased in weight, fat percent, and had poor glycemic control. Daily injections of CBDA were found to decrease the overeating, and improved glycemic parameters, indicating that CBDA cause weight loss, decreased fat and reduced the appetite of the mice.
CBDA and Metabolism
Researchers published that CBDA improves metabolism through the expression of PPAR (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor) associated genes. Multiple genes involved in adipocyte function (fat cells), such as adipocyte differentiation-related protein, were activated by incubation with CBDA.
CBDA and Inflammation
Inflammation is a necessary reaction by your body to prevent infection, but when left unchecked, can cause long-term damage to the cardiovascular system, brain, and many other organs. Anti-inflammatory properties of CBDA have been investigated, and reports are finding that CBDA can decrease a critical pro-inflammatory enzyme, COX-2. This enzyme, COX-2 is a common target for prescription and over the counter drugs, such as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like Ibuprofen.
Why does CBDA have enhanced absorption?
CBDA has higher absorption than CBD1, because it has different absorption properties due to the carboxyl group in the CBDA. Why is this important? If a compound has amazing medicinal benefits, but is not absorbed well by the body, then you will need to take significant amounts of the compound to get the benefit. Did you know that epileptic patients who take CBD to control seizures take over 2000mg of CBD per day2? This is due in part to the absorption properties of CBD.
Average concentration of CBD and CBDA in blood after ingestion of equivalent amount1
What is Bioavailability?
The human body can absorb compounds through many routes, such as sublingual (under the tongue), topical (through the skin), intranasal (through the nose), and oral ingestion (eating/drinking). Depending on the molecular structure and route of administration, the body may absorb more or less of the molecule of interest. The absorption by the body is measured by taking a multiple samples of blood after administration of the compound or nutrient, and analyzing the concentration of the compound over time. The amount in the blood compared the amount of the compound administered is referred to as the Bioavailability, the higher this number, the better the compound gets into the body and can exert its medicinal effects.
Absorption of CBDA and CBD in heated and unheated hemp oil
As we have mentioned before, CBDA is the natural cannabinoid found in the hemp plant, and forms CBD only after exposure to high heat, typically seen in conventional purification processes. Natural Dos does not use heat during its purification process, allowing us to produce a Natural Spectrum Oil that contains, maintaining the high bioavailable cannabinoids. In a recent study out of Basel, Switzerland, researchers found that not heating Hemp Oil, and leaving CBDA in the mixture, increased the blood levels of CBD ~4-fold3. This surprised us, why would CBD blood levels also be increased in high CBDA mixtures compared to CBD only formulations? Currently, we think CBDA is being converted to CBD once it is absorbed by the body through as yet unknown mechanisms. However, this means you can get grater benefits of both CBDA and CBD by just taking high amounts of CBDA formulations!
CBD levels are higher in the blood after ingestion of hemp oil with CBDA compared to hemp oil without CBDA3
Why is Natural Spectrum CBDA important?
There is a significant body of research and user reports that having all the cannabinoids in a product has significantly better results. This has been termed the “entourage effect”.
A recent publication out of Australia has found that this is the case for CBDA. When an extract that contains CBDA and other cannabinoids is compared to CBDA alone, the absorption of the CBDA into the blood stream is around 14-times higher than CBDA taken by itself.
For reference, 14-time higher is 1400% greater absorption!
Absorption of CBDA is much higher when taking a full spectrum mixture, so maximize your benefit by taking Natural Spectrum CBDA.
Let us know if you have any ideas for future posts!
1) Pellesi, L., et al, “Pharmacokinetics and tolerability of oral cannabis preparations in patients with medication overuse headache (MOH) – a pilot study.” European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 2018, 74(11):1427:1436. PMID: 29980818
2) Szaflarski, P. J., et al, “Higher cannabidiol plasma levels are associated with better seizure response following treatment with a pharmaceutical grade cannabidiol.” Epilepsy & Behavior, 2019, 95:131-136. PMID: 31048098
3) Eichler, M., et al, “Heat exposure of Cannabis sativa extracts affects the pharmacokinetic and metabolic profile in healthy male subjects.” Planta Medicine, 2012 May;78(7). PMID: 22411724
FAQ - CBDA Absorption
Yes. How well a compound is absorbed and gets into the blood stream is the definition of bioavailability. Depending on the study you look at, CBDA has between 450% to over 1000% better absorption than CBD.
A recent report in mice found that if CBDA was taken with other cannabinoids, its absorption could be increased up to 1400% more.
Yes. Potency of a compound has 2 components, how well its absorbed (bioavailability) and how much is needed to act on its targets inside the body. Many of the targets that CBD has are also targets of CBDA, and while they may not have the same binding kinetics, the absorption most likely makes up for that.
Additionally, CBDA also appears to have some unique targets, such as COX2 (an inflammatory enzyme), and receptors in the serotonin system (5HT1A) as well.
Yes, CBDA is very bioavailable due to the carboxyl group unique to acidic cannabinoids. This molecular group (-COOH) confers some water solubility which is critical in giving it a higher absorption, over 500% more, than its neutral form (CBD).
Many consumers take CBDA for its calming effects on stress and anxiety. People have also reported using it for its effects on pain and sleep, which may be due to its anti inflammatory properties, serotonin system interactions, and benefits to the endocannabinoid system.