Cannabidiol and Abnormal Liver Chemistries in Healthy Adults: Results of a Phase I Clinical Trial

Liver safety concerns were raised in randomized controlled trials of cannabidiol (CBD) in patients with Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndromes, but the relevance of these concerns to healthy adults consuming CBD is unclear. The objective of this manuscript is to report on liver safety findings from healthy adults who received therapeutic daily doses of CBD for similar to 3.5 weeks and to investigate any correlation between transaminase elevations and baseline characteristics, pharmacogenetic, and pharmacokinetic data. Sixteen healthy adults were enrolled in a phase I, open-label, fixed single-sequence drug-drug interaction trial to investigate the effect of repeated dose administration of CBD (1,500 mg/day) on cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A2 activity. Seven (44%) participants experienced peak serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values greater than the upper limit of normal (ULN). For five (31%) participants, the value exceeded 5 x ULN, therefore meeting the international consensus criteria for drug-induced liver injury. There was no correlation between transaminase elevations and baseline characteristics, CYP2C19 genotype, or CBD plasma concentrations. All ALT elevations above the ULN began within 2-4 weeks of initial exposure to CBD. Among the six participants with ALT elevations who were discontinued from the protocol, some had symptoms consistent with hepatitis or hypersensitivity. We conclude that healthy adults consuming CBD may experience elevations in serum ALT consistent with drug-induced liver injury. Given the demonstrated interindividual variation in susceptibility, clinicians should be alert to this potential effect from CBD, which is increasingly available in various nonprescription forms and doses to consumers.

Automated summary

Liver safety concerns have been raised in healthy adults consuming therapeutic daily doses of CBD, with some experiencing drug-induced liver injury characterized by elevated serum ALT values. However, there was no correlation found between transaminase elevations and baseline characteristics, pharmacogenetic, or pharmacokinetic data.