The Effects of Dietary Fat and Emulsification on Cannabigerol Pharmacokinetics

Objectives: Cannabigerol (CBG) is a non‐intoxicating cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant which is being increasingly incorporated into dietary supplements. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of dietary fat and emulsification on the pharmacokinetics (PK) of cannabigerol (CBG).We predicted that dietary fat and emulsification of CBG would lead to increased circulatory CBG. Methods: Consented participants (IRB #3460) were enrolled in a double crossover study and were blinded to the gummy type (isolate or emulsification) and meal condition (LF= <5 g fat/meal or HF=>30 g fat/meal). The concentration of CBG in human plasma was measured after a single 25 mg dose of CBG using LC‐MS/MS. PK parameters (maximum concentration [Cmax], area under the plasma concentration‐time curve from time 0 to last quantifiable value [AUCLast] and time 0 to ∞ [AUCinf], time to maximum concentration [Tmax], terminal halflife [T1/2,z], and the terminal elimination rate constant [λz]) were calculated using noncompartmental analysis. Results: The Cmax, AUCLast, and AUCinf of the gummy types did not differ within the LF meal condition, however, the differences between the gummies reached significance in the HF meal condition (P=0.004, 8.58×10−5, & 7.40×10−7, respectively). When gummy type data were combined by meal condition, the HF condition had a significantly higher AUCLast (P=8.93×10−8) and Cmax (P=9.14×10−9) and significantly lower λz, T1/2,z, and Tmax (P=0.048, 0.047, & 0.011, respectively). In addition, the variation of Tmax in the HF condition was lower than the LF condition for both gummy types (CV%: LFisolate= 75.70%; LF‐emulsion=71.73%, HF‐emulsion= 64.55%, HF‐isolate=16.67%). Gummy type did not impact λz or T1/2,z in either meal condition. The geometric mean ratios and 90% CIs did not fall within the FDA's 0.8–1.25 range of bioequivalence when compared to the LF isolate gummy condition. No adverse events were reported. Conclusions: This study shows the impact of dietary fat has a greater effect on CBG pharmacokinetics than emulsification, highlighting the importance of dietary intake guidance in development of administration guidelines for CBG and likely other cannabinoids. Additional research will investigate optimal delivery and the physiological impacts of CBG. Funding Sources: Internal UMass Amherst Grants.