CBD Bioavailability: Why Does It Matter?

With the legalization of hemp and hemp-derived products in the USA, the complexion of the CBD industry has changed overnight. From being almost unknown to many people, it has become a trend in the health and wellness community. The rapid uplift of this particular industry surprised CBD enthusiasts and entrepreneurs as well. With numerous brands and products, the CBD market has positioned itself as a place of umpteen scopes for both entrepreneurs and consumers. While entrepreneurs are pursuing lucrative money-making opportunities here, consumers are seeking relief from many ailments in this naturally occurring compound.

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CBD products are available in a wide range of forms. Each of these forms of CBD oil is beneficial for specific health conditions. For instance, using CBD topicals can not help you with getting relief from your anxiety. So being well-educated before trying CBD products will eventually help you make an informed decision.

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Whether CBD rookies or active users, they all have a common concern regarding the effectiveness of CBD oil. The question most frequently asked on the internet by many CBD users is- “How do I get the most out of my CBD oil?.” Simply put, there is no specific answer to this question. To understand the effectiveness of CBD oil, you need to have rigorous knowledge of the term “CBD bioavailability.”

As mentioned previously, CBD comes in an array of forms including, tinctures, oils, lotions, e-liquids, gummies, and capsules. Each of these forms has different consumption methods. Besides, CBD products are available in various concentrations. If you are new to CBD, different delivery methods and varying dosages may confuse you. Choosing the right CBD delivery method, and the proper dosage may seem difficult initially. So, which CBD delivery method is appropriate for you, and in what concentration should you take it? Understanding CBD bioavailability can help you get a valid answer to such questions.

Bioavailability, in essence, is the rate and degree of absorption of a substance into the bloodstream. Furthermore, bioavailability determines how much of the compound you consumed is present in your blood to give you the effect. For pharmaceutical drugs prescribed by doctors, bioavailability is also taken into account while calculating the standard dosage.

CBD bioavailability depends on the consumption method and the concentration of cannabidiol in your product. It may raise a question: Which CBD consumption method provides the highest bioavailability?

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There are many ways in which you can take CBD to achieve high bioavailability. But the intravenous administration may provide you with the most bioavailability out of your CBD oil. Intravenous administration refers to injecting CBD oil through the veins. This way, cannabidiol is directly pushed into your bloodstream.

By definition, you are getting a hundred percent of CBD when taken through intravenous administration. Sticking with a needle can be painful for many people. As a result, it is not the most popular option of taking CBD. Now in this part of the article, we are going to discuss other CBD consumption methods and how each of them affects CBD bioavailability.

For convenience, oral consumption is one of the most popular ways of taking CBD. CBD capsules, gummies, and beverages are some of the forms taken orally. Despite the ease in ingesting CBD, cannabidiol taken orally requires some time to start working in the human body. When you ingest CBD, it has to pass through the inevitable metabolic and digestive systems. In this phase, most of the CBD you have taken is filtered out and results in lower CBD bioavailability.

According to a 1986 study, CBD taken orally showed 6% bioavailability. On the other hand, another study in 2009 reported a CBD bioavailability between 4% and 20% for the same consumption method. There’s a significant difference in both findings. However, both showed very low CBD bioavailability when taken orally.

Following the above results, if you take a 100mg of CBD orally, only 4mg to 20mg will make it to your bloodstream. Such amount of CBD reaching your blood is pretty low. It is not a problem to accept to lose a portion of cannabidiol to your digestive system. But, losing more than 75% is frustrating! Don’t lose hope yet. Other consumption methods offer higher CBD bioavailability.

The next CBD consumption method that offers relatively a higher bioavailability is taking it sublingually. But how does it work? There is a group of veins under your tongue. They are also known as sublingual glands. These glands are almond-shaped and found in the oral cavity. When you take a substance sublingually, these veins absorb and deliver that particular substance to the bloodstream almost immediately. Similarly, if you put a drop or two of CBD under your tongue, it will reach your blood through these veins instantly. CBD tinctures, CBD lozenges, and CBD sprays are some of the forms of CBD products that involve sublingual administration.

Sublingual application of CBD is more direct, quick-acting, and offers higher CBD bioavailability. In this case, CBD does not have to pass through the complicated systems in your body. But still, it has to overcome a little obstacle. Enzymes in saliva may cause degradation of cannabidiol. There are a few factors that affect the CBD bioavailability when taken sublingually. Studies suggest sublingual administration of CBD may provide you with 12%-35% of bioavailability. The rate is significantly higher than the CBD taken orally.

Vaporized consumption is the most straightforward method of taking CBD. You have to use a vape pen or vaporizer for it. It’s similar to conventional vaping. When vaping CBD, you are inhaling it directly into your lungs. When cannabidiol enters your lungs, it is delivered to your blood instantly. This method of taking CBD requires less breakdown of molecules and a higher CBD bioavailability.

According to numerous studies, vaporized consumption of CBD may offer bioavailability rates between 34%-46%. Even, some other studies reported a bioavailability rate of up to 56%. However, analyzing these reports, we can say that the vaporized consumption of cannabidiol is the most effective method of taking CBD. It provides the highest CBD bioavailability compared to other methods of CBD consumption.

Warning: There’s a concern regarding vaping substances. It may hurt your lungs and lead to inflammation. Previously, many people taking e-liquids fell sick, and to some, it led to the fatality. Several probes concluded that most of those people had taken illegal THC infused e-liquids. On the other hand, they also found that those illegal e-liquids came from highly unregulated black markets. So, before taking CBD vape, consulting with a doctor is highly recommended.

The most common concern among CBD users is how much they can get out of their CBD products. It depends on many things, such as the consumption method and your body chemistry. But CBD bioavailability mostly depends on the way you are taking it. We have explained several CBD consumption methods above. Also, we have found that the sublingual and vaporized administration of CBD can give you the most effective result. Considering risks, we suggest you talk to your doctor before taking any CBD product. They can help you figure out the most effective CBD consumption method and proper dosage.