Chronic oral dosing of cannabidiol and cannabidiolic acid full-spectrum hemp oil extracts has no adverse effects in horses: a pharmacokinetic and safety study.
Abstract: To compare the pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) in horses and to evaluate the safety of their chronic administration. Methods: CBD- and CBDA-rich oil (1 mg/kg) were administered orally twice daily to 7 adult horses over 6 weeks in a randomized, crossover design with a 2-week washout period. A 12-hour pharmacokinetic analysis was conducted on day 1 of each 6-week trial, followed by the measurement of peak and trough concentrations at weeks 1, 2, 4, and 6. The cannabinoids safety was assessed via daily physical examination, periodic bloodwork, and liver biopsy at the beginning and end of the study. Results: 12-hour pharmacokinetics revealed a higher maximum serum concentration (103 vs 12 ng/mL) and greater area under the curve (259 vs 62 ng·h/mL) for CBDA when compared to CBD. Cannabidiolic acid nadir and peak serum levels over time ranged from 46 to 122 ng/mL, which was higher than CBD (12 to 38 ng/mL). Complete blood count and serum chemistry revealed no clinically relevant changes with either CBD or CBDA. No significant abnormalities were detected on liver ultrasonographic and histopathologic evaluation on day 0 and after both phases of the study. Conclusions: A dose of either 1 mg/kg of CBD or CBDA administered long term appears safe; however, CBDA serum concentrations suggest superior absorption/retention. Conclusions: Chronic cannabinoid supplementation in horses is safe. Considering the higher absorption of CBDA, its use is recommended to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of this common hemp derived cannabinoid.
Publication Date: 2025-01-09 PubMed ID: 39787699DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.24.08.0235Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research paper focuses on the comparison of the pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) in horses and the chronic safety profile of these substances. It suggests that long-term administration of CBD and CBDA via oral methods is safe and that CBDA shows superior absorption and retention in the bloodstream compared to CBD.
Methodology
- The study was conducted in a randomized, crossover design, with a sample size of 7 adult horses. The participating horses were administered with CBD- and CBDA-rich oil at the rate of 1 mg/kg orally, twice daily for a period of 6 weeks. This was followed by a washout period of 2 weeks to eliminate any remaining substance from the horses’ bodies before conducting another cycle of the trial.
- The pharmacokinetic analysis was conducted on the first day of every 6-week trial. The peak and trough concentrations of these cannabinoids were measured at specific time periods – weeks 1, 2, 4, and 6.
- The safety of the cannabinoids was verified using daily physical examinations, periodic bloodwork, and a liver biopsy at the start and end of the study.
Results
- The 12-hour pharmacokinetics revealed that CBDA had a higher maximum serum concentration (103 versus 12 ng/mL) and greater area under the curve (259 versus 62 ng·h/mL), compared to CBD.
- The nadir and peak serum levels of CBDA over time ranged from 46 to 122 ng/mL, which was higher than the CBD levels, which ranged from 12 to 38 ng/mL.
- A complete blood count (CBC) and serum chemistry test showed no significant and clinically relevant changes in the horses with either the CBD or CBDA.
- The liver ultrasonographic and histopathologic evaluations conducted at day 0 and after both phases of the study also showed no significant abnormalities.
Conclusions
- The study concluded that the long-term administration of either 1 mg/kg of CBD or CBDA appears to be safe for horses. However, due to the superior absorption and retention demonstrated by CBDA, it is suggested for the therapeutic efficacy evaluation of this common hemp-derived cannabinoid.
- The study substantiated that chronic administration of cannabinoids, CBD and CBDA, in horses, is safe.
Cite This Article
APA
Wang TC, Wakshlag JJ, Jager MC, Schwark WS, Trottier NL, Chevalier JM, Pearson G, Cercone M.
(2025).
Chronic oral dosing of cannabidiol and cannabidiolic acid full-spectrum hemp oil extracts has no adverse effects in horses: a pharmacokinetic and safety study.
Am J Vet Res, 1-10.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.24.08.0235 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
- Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
- Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
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