Pharmacokinetics of a single oral administration of two cannabidiol formulations in fed and fasted horses.
Authors: Di Salvo Alessandra, Bazzano Marilena, Rocca Giorgia Della, Galarini Roberta, Marchegiani Andrea, Paoletti Fabiola, Giusepponi Danilo, Mantovani Matteo, Laus Fulvio
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Oral Cannabidiol Pharmacokinetics in Horses Whilst cannabinoid receptors are well-documented in equine dorsal root ganglia, blood vessels, and synovial tissue—suggesting potential utility in pain management—current CBD supplementation in horses lacks robust pharmacokinetic data to guide practitioners. Di Salvo and colleagues administered two CBD formulations (oil and paste) at 1 mg/kg to eight healthy horses in a crossover design, sampling blood at predetermined intervals to characterise absorption profiles under both fed and fasted conditions. Although no statistically significant differences emerged between formulation type or feeding status overall, the paste formulation achieved peak plasma concentrations (Cmax) more rapidly than the oil, suggesting superior bioavailability kinetics that may prove clinically relevant for acute pain scenarios. These findings provide the first equine-specific pharmacokinetic evidence for oral CBD, though the modest sample size and lack of statistical significance between conditions warrant cautious interpretation; practitioners should recognise that dosing recommendations cannot yet be confidently differentiated based on feeding status, but paste formulations may warrant priority in future investigation for potentially faster therapeutic onset. This work represents an important foundational step toward evidence-based CBD use in equine practice, though substantially larger pharmacodynamic studies exploring efficacy in actual pain models remain necessary before clinical recommendations can be established.
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Practical Takeaways
- •CBD paste appears to be the preferred formulation for equine use given faster peak concentration achievement, though both oil and paste show similar overall bioavailability
- •Feeding status does not meaningfully affect CBD absorption in horses, so dosing can be flexible relative to meals
- •Current equine CBD supplementation lacks robust pharmacokinetic evidence—these baseline data support the need for further efficacy studies in painful conditions before widespread clinical recommendation
Key Findings
- •CBD paste achieved peak concentration (Cmax) in a shorter timeframe compared to CBD oil formulation in horses
- •No statistically significant differences in pharmacokinetics between fed and fasted states following oral CBD administration at 1 mg/kg
- •No statistically significant differences in overall pharmacokinetic parameters (AUC) between CBD oil and paste formulations
- •Cannabinoid receptors present in equine dorsal root ganglia, blood vessels, and synoviocytes can be modulated by inflammatory conditions