Authors themselves state, “Clinical evidence on the use of (CBD) for sleep remains limited.” They add that even fewer studies have looked at the efficacy of cannabinoid formulation within CBD products used for sleep or how they compare to other similar remedies, like melatonin. Researchers randomly assigned 1,793 adults experiencing symptoms of sleep disturbance to receive a 4-week supply of one of six capsule products. Each capsule either contained 15 mg of CBD or 5 mg of melatonin, alone or in combination with minor cannabinoids.
They then assessed sleep disturbance over a five-week period, consisting of a baseline week and four weeks of product use, using a Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System sleep disturbance model administered through weekly online surveys. Finally, researchers used a linear mixed-effects regression model to assess the differences in the change in disturbance through time between products.
Findings showed that all formulations had a “favorable safety profile,” with 12% of participants reporting side effects and none were severe. They also showed that all formulations led to “significant improvements” in sleep disturbance.
A total of 56 to 75% of participants, across all formulations, experienced a “clinically important improvement to their sleep quality,” according to the study. However, authors also note that there were “no significant differences in effect” between a 15 mg CBD isolate formulation and formulations containing 15 mg of CBD and 15 mg of CBN, alone or combined with 5 mg of CBC.
“There were also no significant differences in effect between 15 mg CBD isolate and formulations containing 5 mg melatonin, alone or in combination with 15 mg CBD and 15 mg CBN,” authors state. These findings are notable, given that CBN is also regularly marketed as a sleep aid, and many believe that a formulation of CBD and CBN will lead to more significant effects than CBD alone.
“Our findings suggest that chronic use of a low dose of CBD is safe and could improve sleep quality, though these effects do not exceed that of 5 mg melatonin,” researchers concluded. “Moreover, the addition of low doses of CBN and CBC may not improve the effect of formulations containing CBD or melatonin isolate.”
Photo by Angela Roma
