Ongoing, recruitingHuman Pharmacology (Phase I)- OtherInterventional

Effect of cannabidiol on muscle recovery following a single bout of resistance exercise.

This research study is investigating whether a substance called cannabidiol, often known as CBD, can help healthy men's muscles recover after a single exercise session. Scientists want to understand if taking CBD makes a difference to how muscles feel and repair themselves after a workout, compared to not taking it. The study involves healthy adult men and is an early-stage trial, meaning it's primarily focused on understanding how CBD affects the body. It’s an important step in exploring potential new ways to support muscle recovery for people who exercise regularly.

At a glance

Status

Ongoing, recruiting

Phase

Human Pharmacology (Phase I)- Other

Sponsor

UZ Leuven

Enrolment target

Start

14 Aug 2024

Healthy individuals

What is this study about?

This study is like a detective story, trying to figure out if something called cannabidiol (CBD) can help your muscles after you've had a good workout. Many people experience muscle soreness or tiredness after exercise, and scientists are always looking for ways to help the body recover more effectively. CBD is a natural compound found in the cannabis plant, but it's important to know that this study uses CBD that won't make you feel 'high' – it's not the same as recreational cannabis.

The main goal is to see if taking CBD can speed up or improve how your muscles bounce back after a session of resistance exercise, like lifting weights. The researchers want to know if CBD can help reduce muscle soreness, make your muscles feel less tired, or even help them get stronger again more quickly. Even though many people use CBD for various reasons, there isn't a lot of scientific proof yet about its effects on muscle recovery, especially in this specific way.

This is an early-stage study, which means it’s one of the first human trials of its kind for this particular question. The information gathered from this research will be really helpful for understanding how CBD works in the body and if it has any potential to assist muscle recovery. If successful, it could open doors for more research into new ways to help people feel better after exercise.

Key takeaways

This study explores if CBD helps muscles recover after exercise.
It's for healthy men, aged 18 and over.
Participants will do one resistance exercise session.
You might receive CBD or a placebo; neither you nor the team will know.
It's an early-stage study, aiming to understand CBD's effects.
You can withdraw at any time.

Who may be eligible?

To take part in this study, you need to be a healthy man. This means you should generally be in good health and not have any serious ongoing medical conditions that might affect the study results or your safety.

You must be at least 18 years old. There isn't an upper age limit mentioned, but you'll need to be fit enough to safely complete the exercise tasks in the study.

Because this study is specifically looking at men, women aren't able to participate. The researchers often limit studies like this to one sex at a time to make sure they can clearly see the effects of the treatment without other factors making the results difficult to understand.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you a man?
Are you 18 years old or older?
Are you generally healthy?
Are you able to do some resistance exercise safely?
Do you understand you might receive a placebo?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part in this study, you'll be given CBD (cannabidiol) or a placebo – which looks exactly like CBD but contains no active ingredient. You won't know which one you're receiving, nor will the study staff, until the end of the study. You will do a single session of resistance exercise, which might involve weight training or similar activities designed to work your muscles. Over a short period after the exercise, you will have several assessments. These might include checking your muscle strength, asking you about any muscle soreness you feel, and possibly giving blood samples to look at markers of muscle recovery. The exact number of visits, how long each visit is, and the total duration of your involvement will be clearly explained to you before you agree to join. You will be closely monitored throughout for your safety and well-being.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in a research study always involves a balance of potential benefits and risks. You might not directly benefit from taking part in this specific study, but the information gained could help others in the future by increasing our understanding of muscle recovery and CBD. There could be some minor risks associated with the exercise, like temporary muscle soreness, or with taking CBD, although CBD is generally considered to be well-tolerated. Any potential side effects will be fully explained. It's really important to remember that you have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care if you choose to do so.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

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Unverified
Belgium

Common questions

What is CBD?

CBD stands for cannabidiol. It's a natural substance found in the cannabis plant. Unlike THC, it doesn't make you feel 'high' and is being studied for various health effects.

Will I feel 'high' if I take part?

No. The CBD used in this study is specifically chosen not to have the psychoactive effects that cause a 'high'. You will not experience any intoxicating effects.

What kind of exercise will I need to do?

You'll be asked to do a single session of resistance exercise, which means activities like lifting weights or similar exercises designed to work your muscles.

Do I have to be really fit to join?

You need to be generally healthy and able to safely complete some resistance exercise. The study team will check your fitness levels during the screening process.

Will I know if I'm getting CBD or not?

Neither you nor the study team will know if you are receiving CBD or a placebo (a dummy treatment) during the study. This is common practice to keep the results fair and unbiased.