Over the years, CBD has gathered a lot of attention. Many of its advocates praise it for the benefits it brings to their lives, including pain relief and better sleep, you can check out some CBD products at https://sahaselfcare.com/. Even the most devoted CBD users do not know everything about this non-psychoactive compound, for example, you can find many different questions regarding the best CBD products or their proper dosage on the internet. One of the aspects that are relatively unknown for most CBD enthusiasts is its bioavailability and how to best use it to reap the benefits. If you are among those who do not know what it means, you came to the right place. In this article, we explain what bioavailability is and why it is important.
What does bioavailability mean?
To put it simply, bioavailability is the fraction of a drug that reaches the bloodstream and produces the desired effect. In other words, it tells us if a drug is useful or not. If the bioavailability of a substance is high, then the substance is very effective. The bioavailability of a compound is the rate at which it reaches the bloodstream and its active sites. In other words, it refers to how well a drug becomes available to the body. In this case, we are talking about CBD.
It is not the same as absorption. When a CBD molecule enters the bloodstream, it needs to pass through several organs before reaching the bloodstream. These organs are the gastrointestinal tract (GI), the liver, and the lymphatic system. Once it is in one of these organs, CBD gets stored in the fatty tissues for later use. The more CBD passes through this pathway, the better it gets absorbed by the body.
The bioavailability of CBD varies based on its route of administration. This means that we can have different percentages depending on how we ingest this compound. Here is what you need to know about each of them:
- Oral Intake – When we consume CBD orally, such as in a capsule or a tincture, the percentage of bioavailability is only around 15%. This means that less than 15% of the total amount of CBD in the product will be available for absorption by the body.
- Sublingual Delivery – When we apply CBD under the tongue, its bioavailability goes up to 60%. That means that almost 60% of it will reach our bloodstream.
- Vaporizer – When we inhale CBD through a vaporizer, its bioavailability is only around 20%. That is because it mostly enters the lungs and then quickly leaves them.
- Transdermal Delivery – When we apply CBD topically using a transdermal patch or cream, its bioavailability is approximately between 50 to 70%. This means that between 50% and 70% of CBD will reach the bloodstream.
How is bioavailability measured?
When it comes to measuring the bioavailability of a drug, the first step is to determine its absorption rate. In other words, scientists find out how much of the drug reaches the bloodstream, however, this value may vary depending on various factors. Therefore, before finding the absorption rate, you have to measure the blood concentration of the drug. Scientists use various analytical techniques to find this information. Then, they divide the amount of drug found in the bloodstream by the amount administered (the absorbed amount) in order to calculate the absorption rate. The next step consists of comparing this rate with the total bioavailability of a compound, which is the fraction of a given dose that reaches the bloodstream and produces the desired effect.
How does bioavailability affect your CBD consumption?
When taking into account that bioavailability is measured in percentages, you should expect that a low bioavailability would result in lower efficiency. In fact, if you are taking CBD oil, a low bioavailability means that only a small fraction of your dose will reach your bloodstream. This may affect your health in various ways and reduce your CBD benefits. It is important to note that there are many ways to boost bioavailability and increase the effects of CBD.
What factors influence bioavailability?
There are various factors that can influence CBD bioavailability, including solubility in lipids (fats), the amount of fatty tissue in your body, the pH of your body and stomach, gastric emptying time, and many others. Some of them were discussed in this article, but there are some that deserve more attention.
- Solubility in lipids – As mentioned before, CBD is a fat-soluble compound. Therefore, the first factor that influences its bioavailability is its solubility in lipids. The higher this value is, the higher the bioavailability is. This is especially important when we talk about CBD oil. If you want to consume this substance orally, you should check the solubility of the product you are taking into account.
- The amount of fatty tissue – If you have more fat in your body, then it will be easier for your body to absorb CBD and use it. That is why people who have plenty of body fat usually experience better results than those who do not. In fact, if you add CBD oil to your favorite recipes, it will be much easier for your body to absorb it. On the other hand, if you are quite thin and want to take CBD orally, you may want to try a capsule instead of a dropper.
- The pH levels of your body – Generally, the higher the pH is, the better the bioavailability is. That is why it is recommended to take CBD with foods or juices with a high pH value, such as berry juice. However, you should not drink water while using CBD oils or tinctures because it has a low pH value.
- Gastric emptying time – Another important factor that controls the bioavailability of CBD is gastric emptying time. This refers to how fast your stomach contents leave your stomach. It affects how long it takes for CBD to reach your bloodstream and stay in your system. If your stomach empties quickly, then it is likely that the bioavailability of CBD will be high. However, if it empties slowly, then there is a good chance that your bioavailability will be low.
Summary
CBD has become increasingly popular as the benefits of using CBD have become more widespread. It is important to do your research and know exactly how you should be taking CBD, not only knowing the right doses for the ailment you wish to treat but also knowing how efficient it will be. It is important to note that CBD can interfere with some medication as well, so make sure that you check before starting your CBD journey. Knowing how these factors affect CBD bioavailability is essential if you want to consume the right dose and get the best results from this compound. However, it is important to keep in mind that some factors may vary depending on various factors such as genetics or lifestyle. Therefore, if you want to be sure that you are consuming a good dose of CBD, you should consult with a professional who will help you find the most appropriate solution for your situation.