What is CBD Bioavailability?
As you may have noticed, CBD is available in many various forms including: lotions, tinctures, oils, e-liquids, capsules and more. Each of these different forms requires a different usage method, and each product typically comes in multiple concentrations of CBD.
Understanding how CBD bioavailability works helps you increase the effectiveness of the CBD you’re taking.
In short, bioavailability is the degree and rate at which a substance that is absorbed into the bloodstream.
In addition to the amount and strength of a substance, bioavailability determines how much of what you took is actually present to provide your level of effect. For medications ordered by your doctor part of the calculation about the dosage has already included bioavailability when determining the standard dosage.
With that being said, the bioavailability of CBD varies based on the the consumption method and concentration of CBD in the product.
Oral Consumption
Common oral consumption methods include CBD capsules, CBD edibles and CBD beverages.
While oral consumption methods do offer certain benefits, any substance consumed will have to pass through our metabolic and digestive systems, which will filter out a large portion of the CBD, drastically reducing its bioavailability.
A 1986 study reported a bioavailability rate of 6%, while a 2009 studyreported it between 4% and 20%.
For example, if you eat an edible that contains 100mg of CBD, only 20mg will actually reach your bloodstream.
Sublingual Consumption
Under the tongue, there is a vein called the sublingual gland. When a substance is administered to the sublingual gland, it gets absorbed directly into the bloodstream, which is referred to as sublingual consumption or sublingual administration. Common sublingual consumption methods include CBD tinctures, CBD lozenges and CBD sprays.
Because sublingual consumption is more direct, it impacts the body quicker than oral consumption and maintains higher availability, only being degraded from enzymes in the mouths saliva.
Because there are a few different factors that will impact the CBD bioavailability of sublingual consumption, most involving the quality of CBD, reported rates range from 12%-35%, which is still significantly higher than oral consumption.
Vaporized Consumption
Vaporized consumption involves inhaling CBD directly into the lungs, typically through a vape pen or vaporizer device.
By directly entering the lungs, the CBD can then quickly and directly enter the bloodstream, with decreased breakdown rates and higher bioavailability.
With numerous medical studies reporting bioavailability rates between 34–46%, and some even reporting up to 56%, vaporizing CBD is by far one of the most effective methods to take CBD.
*Information from: What is CBD Bioavailiblity and Why Does it Matter?, https://medium.com/cbd-origin/what-is-cbd-bioavailability-and-why-does-it-matter
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