Science/Human: The intake of cannabinoids results in slightly higher bioavailability if taken with a meal
THC and CBD taken together with a meal causes higher maximal blood concentrations and bioavailability compared to the intake in a fasted state, but this difference is small. This is the result of a clinical study conducted by the company GW Pharmaceuticals with twelve subjects, who received a single dose of Sativex (4 sprays = 10.8 mg THC + 10 mg CBD) once during the fasted state and four days later together with a meal.
Mean systemic bioavailability and maximum blood concentrations were higher for THC, the THC metabolite 11-OH-THC (11-hydroxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), and CBD (cannabidiol) during the fed condition. There was a high variability of concentrations between the different subjects, mainly for THC. Maximum plasma concentrations of THC in the fasted state varied between 0.97 and 9.34 ng/ml (nanograms per millilitre) and after the intake with meals between 2.81 and 14.91 ng/ml. Seven subjects presented with higher THC concentrations after the intake of Sativex with a meal, while 5 subjects showed higher THC concentrations after intake of cannabinoids in the fasted state. Food also appeared to delay the time to peak concentration in all participants by approximately 2-2.5 hours, which may also delay the time of maximum effect.
