Scientists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem found that CBD (cannabidiol) and CBG (cannabigerol) improved blood sugar control, reduced fat build-up in the liver, and lowered blood lipid levels in obese mice.
Interestingly, these benefits occurred largely without activating the usual cannabinoid receptors that regulate communication between the gut and the liver. Instead, when mice received daily abdominal injections of CBD or CBG, their livers increased production of phosphocreatine, a form of creatine that helps replenish cellular energy and maintain cell health.
After being fed a high-fat diet, mice treated with these compounds showed partial recovery of liver function within four weeks. CBG produced the strongest results, significantly reducing body fat, lowering levels of “bad” cholesterol, and improving insulin sensitivity more than CBD.
According to study co-author Joseph Tam, the findings reveal a new biological pathway through which CBD and CBG boost liver energy metabolism and cellular recycling processes. This metabolic shift appears to improve how the liver processes and stores fats, suggesting that these compounds could become potential treatments for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
MASLD develops when excess fat accumulates in the liver and is not caused by alcohol consumption. It has become the most common chronic liver disease worldwide, affecting roughly one-third of adults globally. Researchers increasingly view it as a broader metabolic disorder rather than a condition limited to the liver.
Previous animal studies have hinted that natural compounds from cannabis might influence metabolism. CBD is one of the most widely studied cannabinoids and has shown possible metabolic benefits in some research, although evidence remains limited. CBG, sometimes called the “mother cannabinoid,” has gained attention more recently because it can convert into other cannabinoids such as CBD and THC.
Unlike THC, neither CBD nor CBG appears to strongly affect the central nervous system when used alone, meaning they do not produce the psychoactive “high” associated with cannabis. This makes them more attractive as potential medical therapies.
The authors say their work is the first to show that plant-derived cannabinoids can reshape the liver’s energy-storage systems. Earlier rodent studies had shown that creatine supplementation could improve MASLD, and the new findings suggest cannabinoids may help by shifting liver energy toward phosphocreatine production and restoring mechanisms that clear fat from liver cells.
However, it is still unclear whether the same effects would occur in humans. Many CBD products on the market are loosely regulated and may not contain pure compounds. Additionally, the study used injections rather than oral forms such as oils or drops, which could affect how the compounds work in the body.
Further research could lead to new medications that mimic these effects in a safe and practical form. Currently, no approved drugs exist specifically to treat MASLD, highlighting the need for new therapies that target the disease’s underlying metabolic causes.
The study was published in the British Journal of Pharmacology.
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