Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of a Cannabidiol Supplement in Horses.

The research paper focuses on the study of the impact, quantity, and tolerability of cannabidiol (CBD) in certain dosages administered to horses. The scientists conducted this study to determine the pharmacokinetic profile, essentially the way the body absorbs, distributes, metabolizes, and excretes the CBD within a specific time period.

Research Design

• The study employs a randomized 2-way crossover design. In this setup, every horse received two different dosages of CBD, with a 2-week washout period included to eliminate previous CBD effects before the next dosage administration.
• The researchers tested two CBD dosages: 0.35 mg/kg or 2.0 mg/kg. The supplements were ingested orally by each horse every 24 hours, totaling seven doses.

Data gathering and methodology

• Assessment of the plasma levels of CBD and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was performed using a procedure called liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). This helped the scientists accurately quantify these substances.
• The plasma levels were determined daily until the 10th day and then again on the 14th day post-CBD administration.
• The final day of CBD administration had multiple measurements of plasma CBD and THC.

Results

• After administering 0.35 mg/kg of CBD, the average concentration (C) of CBD was 6.6 ± 2.1 ng/mL, with an average time (T) to reach this concentration being 1.8 ± 1.2 hours. The THC concentration was found to be 0.7 ± 0.6 ng/mL with a time of 2.5 ± 1 hour to reach that concentration.
• In the case of 2.0 mg/kg of CBD dosage, the concentration of CBD increased to 51 ± 14 ng/mL, and the time taken was 2.4 ± 1.1 hours. Here, the THC concentration increased to 7.5 ± 2.2 ng/mL with a time of 2.9 ± 1.1 hour.
• The half-life of this larger dosage in the terminal phase was 10.4 ± 6 hours.

Conclusion and Recommendations

• Both CBD dosages, 0.35 mg/kg, and 2.0 mg/kg, when administered once daily for seven days, were well tolerated by the horses, with no adverse effects observed.
• Based on plasma CBD levels obtained and the safe tolerance displayed by horses, the researchers suggest trial runs with higher dosages. These trials will help evaluate the administration rate, tolerability, and clinical efficacy of higher mg/kg dosage rates on a horse’s health and well-being.