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Cannabidiol and Focus Study (CBD-Focus)

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Healthy
Interventions
Dietary Supplement: Daily Beverage Intervention
Registration Number
NCT05189275
Lead Sponsor
University of Northern Colorado
Brief Summary

Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive hemp derivative, is an attractive therapeutic target, and is most supported by the scientific community as an antiepileptic, anxiolytic, and antipsychotic. Additionally, CBD may cause alterations in aspects of health and fitness, fatigue, stress, calmness, quality of life, cognitive function, ability to maintain focus, sleep quantity, and sleep quality. Cannabidiol may be associated with alterations in inflammatory response in the human body, which has implications in both healthy and diseased populations. Natural killers cells (NKC) play a vital role in maintain your body's defenses and are an essential component of your immune system. In humans, NKC contain the highest concentrations of receptors associated with the endocannabinoid system and CBD. Human models have demonstrated that CBD use increases the percentage of NKC in peripheral blood. However, similar models found that CBD administration inhibits markers of NKC cytotoxic function, a beneficial cellular mechanism used to prevent malignant cell transformation and viral infection. The overarching goal of this investigation is to determine the effects of an 8-week CBD intervention on measures of fatigue, stress, calmness, quality of life, cognitive function, focus, health and fitness, and sleep quantity, and sleep quality. In addition, this study will explore a potential CBD mechanism of action with a focus on biomarkers of neural health, inflammation, liver health, kidney health, as well as NKC number and function.

Detailed Description

BACKGROUND: Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive hemp derivative, is an attractive therapeutic target, and is most supported by the scientific community as an antiepileptic, anxiolytic, and antipsychotic. Additionally, CBD may cause alterations in aspects of health and fitness, fatigue, stress, calmness, quality of life, cognitive function, ability to maintain focus, sleep quantity, and sleep quality. Cannabidiol may be associated with alterations in inflammatory response in the human body, which has implications in both healthy and diseased populations. In humans, natural killer cells (NKC) contain the highest concentrations of receptors associated with the endocannabinoid system and CBD. Human models have demonstrated that CBD use increases the percentage of NKC in peripheral blood. However, similar models found that CBD administration inhibits markers of NKC cytotoxic function, a beneficial cellular mechanism used to prevent malignant cell transformation and viral infection. The overarching goal of this investigation is to determine the effects of an 8-week CBD intervention on measures of fatigue, stress, calmness, quality of life, cognitive function, focus, health and fitness, and sleep quantity, and sleep quality. In addition, this study will explore a potential CBD mechanism of action with a focus on biomarkers of neural health, inflammation, liver health, kidney health, as well as NKC number and function.

METHODS: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, 4 arm clinical trial, male and female participants will undergo 2 pre intervention study visits and 3 post intervention study visits separated by an 8-week intervention period. Participants must be aged 18-50 years old, currently completing at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week, have a body mass index under 29.9, with no significant physical or mental health (without the presence of chronic depression or anxiety) conditions. Subjects may not have an allergy to soy. All study subjects must also be free of cannabis product use or regular high doses of antioxidants for the previous 8 weeks. Supplementation groups will be randomly assigned into groups consuming one of 4 beverages: 1) a beverage with 40 mg of CBD (CBD40, n=50), 2) a beverage with 20 mg of CBD (CBD20, n=50), 3) a beverage with 0 mg of CBD (CBD0, n=50) or 4) calorie-matched placebo (PLAC, n=50).

INTERVENTION DESCRIPTION: Participants will be instructed to consume one beverage per day following their last meal, 1-1.5h before bed. Four weeks of beverages will be provided at a time. These beverage deposits will include an in person check in at the midpoint of the study. Participants and researchers will be blinded to the intervention groups. All participants will be given a 4-week supply of beverages. Investigators will meet with participants weekly via zoom/phone call and to report any adverse side effects or changes in physical activity routine. All products will be provided by Ocean Spray. All products are hemp derived, within legal limits and have had their purity verified. Following the completion of data collection for all study participants, researchers will be unblinded to supplementation groups.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
100
Inclusion Criteria
  • Currently completing at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week
  • Have a body mass index under 29.9
  • No significant physical or mental health (without the presence of chronic depression or anxiety) conditions
  • No presence or past diagnosis of eating disorders
Exclusion Criteria
  • Subjects may not have an allergy to soy.
  • All study subjects must also be free of cannabis product use or regular high doses of antioxidants for the previous 8 weeks.

Participants receive a $200 Visa Gift Card after the last study visit is completed.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Cannabidiol 40 mg (CBD40)Daily Beverage InterventionSubjects consume beverages with 40mg of CBD.
Placebo Beverage (PLAC)Daily Beverage InterventionSubjects consume calorie matched beverages with 0 CBD.
Cannabidiol 20 mg (CBD20)Daily Beverage InterventionSubjects consume beverages with 20mg of CBD.
Cannabidiol 0 mg (CBD0)Daily Beverage InterventionSubjects consume beverages with 0mg of CBD.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in Natural Killer (NK) Cell FunctionJust before the 8 Week Intervention and Immediately Following the 8 Week Intervention

NK Cell Cellular Function Assay using Flow Cytometry

Change in Fatigue ScoreJust before the 8 Week Intervention and Immediately Following the 8 Week Intervention

Piper Fatigue Questionnaire. A higher score suggests higher levels of fatigue.

Change in Sleep AssessmentJust before the 8 Week Intervention and in the 7th Week of the 8 Week Intervention

Sleep Assessment (7 day). We will use Fitbits to track sleep.

Change in Physical Activity (steps per day)Just before the 8 Week Intervention and in the 7th Week of the 8 Week Intervention

Physical Activity Assessment (7 day). We will use Fitbits to track physical activity.

Change in General Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire ScoreJust before the 8 Week Intervention and Immediately Following the 8 Week Intervention

General Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire 7. A higher score suggests higher levels of anxiety.

Change in Psychological Wellbeing Scale ScoreJust before the 8 Week Intervention and Immediately Following the 8 Week Intervention

Psychological Wellbeing Questionnaire. A higher score suggests better wellbeing.

Change in Cognitive Function and Abilities ScoreJust before the 8 Week Intervention and Immediately Following the 8 Week Intervention

Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Cognitive Function Abilities - Short Form 8a. A higher score suggests higher cognitive ability.

Change in Natural Killer (NK) Cell NumberJust before the 8 Week Intervention and Immediately Following the 8 Week Intervention

NK Cell Counts obtained on a flow cytometer.

Change in a Biomarker of InflammationJust before the 8 Week Intervention and Immediately Following the 8 Week Intervention

Serum C-Reactive Protein

Change in Perceived Stress Scale ScoreJust before the 8 Week Intervention and Immediately Following the 8 Week Intervention

Perceived Stress Questionnaire. A higher score suggests higher perceived stress.

Change in Maximal Anaerobic PowerJust before the 8 Week Intervention and Immediately Following the 8 Week Intervention

Wingate Power Test

Change in a Biomarker of Neural HealthJust before the 8 Week Intervention and Immediately Following the 8 Week Intervention

Circulating Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor

Change in Quality of Life Questionnaire ScoreJust before the 8 Week Intervention and Immediately Following the 8 Week Intervention

Ferrans and Powers Quality of Life Index Questionnaire. A higher scores suggests higher quality of life.

Change in Sleep Questionnaire ScoreJust before the 8 Week Intervention and Immediately Following the 8 Week Intervention

Leeds Sleep Questionnaire. Lower scores generally suggest better sleep.

Change in Athlete Sickness and Illness Assessment ScoreJust before the 8 Week Intervention and Immediately Following the 8 Week Intervention

The Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey. A higher scores suggests more respiratory symptoms.

Change in Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART) ActivityJust before the 8 Week Intervention and Immediately Following the 8 Week Intervention

Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART) Activity

Change in a Stress BiomarkerJust before the 8 Week Intervention and Immediately Following the 8 Week Intervention

Serum Cortisol

Change in Liver Health Biomarker IJust before the 8 Week Intervention and Immediately Following the 8 Week Intervention

Serum Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)

Change in Liver Health Biomarker IIJust before the 8 Week Intervention and Immediately Following the 8 Week Intervention

Serum Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)

Change In Cognitive Function ScoreJust before the 8 Week Intervention and Immediately Following the 8 Week Intervention

PROMIS Cognitive Function - Short Form 8a. A higher score suggests higher cognitive ability.

Change in Kidney Health BiomarkerJust before the 8 Week Intervention and Immediately Following the 8 Week Intervention

Serum creatinine

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University Of Northern Colorado

🇺🇸

Greeley, Colorado, United States

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