CBD Supplementation in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Athletes

Summary

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a high-intensity martial art that imposes significant physical and physiological demands on practitioners, including rigorous training and frequent competitions, which can result in chronic inflammation, delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS), sleep disturbances, and reduced quality of life. Effective recovery strategies are essential to optimize athletic performance and longevity in the sport.

Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychotomimetic phytocannabinoid derived from Cannabis sativa, has emerged as a promising therapeutic agent due to its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anxiolytic, and neuroprotective properties.

Preclinical studies indicate that CBD modulates inflammatory pathways, such as inhibition of NF-κB and NLRP3, thereby reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, TNF-α, IL-8, and IL-1β, while increasing the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10.

In clinical contexts, CBD has shown potential to attenuate DOMS and improve sleep without the adverse effects associated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). However, evidence in BJJ athletes remains limited, with gaps in the translation of preclinical findings to healthy athletic populations.

The prevalence of injuries in combat sports can reach 28%, with contusions and sprains being common and further exacerbating inflammation and pain. Although approximately 23.4% of athletes report cannabis use, there is a lack of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) specifically for BJJ evaluating isolated CBD at standardized doses.

Furthermore, concerns regarding hepatotoxicity, monitored through enzymes such as AST and ALT, require rigorous safety evaluation.

This protocol describes an RCT to investigate the effects of 200 mg/day of isolated CBD for 12 weeks in BJJ athletes, focusing on sensitive inflammatory markers (IL-6 as the primary pro-inflammatory marker and IL-10 as the anti-inflammatory marker), pain, sleep, and quality of life.

The study aims to address gaps identified in systematic reviews and provide an evidence-based foundation for future recommendations.

Conditions

• Pro and Anti Inflamatory Cytokines
• Pain
• Sleep
• Quality of Life

Interventions

DRUG

CBD Isolate 100mg BID

Treated for 12 weeks

OTHER

Placebo

Equivalent volume of MCT BID

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Associação Pan-Americana Multidisciplinar de Endocanabinologia

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Jose Wilson N V Andrade, MD · APMC

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

40 Years

Sex

MALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-06-01

Primary Completion

2027-02-01

Completion

2027-07-31

FDA Drug

Yes

Countries

• Brazil

Study Locations