A study published in Frontiers in Pharmacology found that when estrogen-deficient mice were fed CBD, they showed marked improvement in several areas related to menopausal symptoms, namely that their bloodstreams were more readily disposed of glucose and burned more energy. In addition, the mice's bone density improved, there was less inflammation in their gut and bone tissues, and they possessed higher levels of beneficial gut bacteria.
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Over 18 weeks, researchers fed estrogen-deficient mice a steady diet of either tiny, CBD-laced peanut butter balls or peanut butter balls without CBD. The untreated estrogen-deficient mice developed symptoms that are common among post-menopausal women. In mice that ingested the CBD, those conditions were improved.
“This preclinical study is the first to suggest the therapeutic potential of CBD for alleviating symptoms of estrogen deficiency,” said Diana Roopchand, assistant professor in the Department of Food Science of the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) and senior author on the study. “There is much anecdotal evidence of CBD’s health benefits for menopausal and post-menopausal women, but our study is the first to investigate some of the claims in an established preclinical model of post-menopause.”
Women can spend one-third of their lifespan in the post-menopausal stage, defined as one year after the final menstruation, which typically occurs around age 51. With a decline in estrogen, women can experience weight gain, cardiometabolic disease, osteoporosis, gastrointestinal disorders and cognitive decline.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is one of the few treatment options, but it comes with risks and benefits that are variable, often dependent on age, individual health status and type of HRT. For women over 60, risks of heart disease, stroke, blood clots and cancer are increased.
“CBD is already being used by many women to deal with symptoms of menopause and post-menopause,” Roopchand said. “This study provides preclinical evidence to support further investigation of CBD as a therapeutic for post-menopause-related disorders.”
