CBD Oil and Magnesium - April 2024

Does CBD Interact With Magnesium?

Magnesium is a mineral naturally present in a variety of foods, available as a supplement, and an ingredient in antacids and laxatives ⁽¹⁾. 

Magnesium is essential in assisting more than 300 enzymes to carry out various chemical reactions in the body, such as building proteins and healthy bones and regulating blood sugar, blood pressure, and muscle and nerve functions. Without enough magnesium, these areas malfunction.

More than half of the magnesium in the body is stored in bones, while some are in various tissues.

Can CBD Be Taken With Magnesium?

There is no data available on the adverse effects that may result from an interaction between CBD and magnesium. Neither is there a study that says the two substances may be safely taken together.

For these reasons, one should consult with a medical professional before supplementing with both CBD and magnesium and taking them together.

CBD can interact with other compounds that, like itself, are metabolized (broken down) in the body by cytochrome P450 enzymes. Primarily found in liver cells, cytochrome P450 enzymes account for 70% to 80% of enzymes involved in drug metabolism ⁽²⁾. 

These enzymes break down external substances, such as medications that are ingested, and internal substances, such as toxins, that are formed within cells. 

Meanwhile, results of a randomized clinical trial showed that magnesium supplementation does not affect liver enzymes in patients with a fatty liver ⁽³⁾.

Can CBD Replace Magnesium?

No study explicitly says CBD can be used in place of magnesium. However, a close look at the main health benefits of magnesium reveals this mineral possesses characteristics comparable to those of CBD.

Listed below are some areas where magnesium and CBD share the same therapeutic benefits.

• Bone Problems

Population studies have noted an association of greater bone mineral density in men and women with higher magnesium diets ⁽⁴⁾. 

Similarly, CBD promotes bone health. The effect of CBD on bones was demonstrated by a 2015 study that investigated the properties of cannabidiol concerning bone-related conditions. Data showed that that CBD led to an improvement in fracture healing ⁽⁵⁾.

• Migraine Headaches

Magnesium is often prescribed as an adjunct treatment for migraine headaches. Clinical studies have reported low magnesium levels in people suffering from this condition ⁽⁶⁾.

Meanwhile, CBD’s antiemetic properties, which prevent nausea and vomiting, are incredibly helpful. 

A 2011 study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology revealed the antiemetic effects of cannabinoids in response to a toxic challenge. 

CBD, the primary non-psychoactive compound in cannabis, was shown to suppress nausea and vomiting within a limited dose range ⁽⁷⁾.

A 2014 review from the European Journal of Pharmacology established the potential of cannabinoids to limit or prevent nausea and vomiting from a wide range of causes ⁽⁸⁾. 

• Depression and Anxiety

Magnesium helps with neurological pathways that, when not functioning correctly, are known to lead to mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety. Several studies have linked lower magnesium levels with increased depression ⁽⁹⁾.

Similarly, a study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology found that CBD decreases anxiety levels in individuals with a social anxiety disorder (SAD). 

Results indicated that, relative to placebo, CBD was associated with significantly decreased subjective anxiety ⁽¹⁰⁾. 

In another study, results showed that CBD could induce rapid-acting antidepressant-like effects and enhance neurotransmission ⁽¹¹⁾. Neurotransmission is the process of communication between nerve cells.

• Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD)

Studies have shown that increased magnesium intakes or high blood levels of magnesium are linked to a lower risk of stroke and deaths from heart disease. 

However, it is difficult to separate other nutrients in these same foods that are protective against CVD ⁽¹²⁾.

Meanwhile, a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology showed that CBD might help attenuate oxidative stress, as well as cardiac dysfunction, fibrosis, and cell death ⁽¹³⁾.

In a 2015 study conducted by researchers from the University of Nottingham Royal Derby Hospital in the UK, CBD was shown to be a potent vascular relaxant to human arteries, suggesting its potential benefits to dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow ⁽¹⁴⁾

• Diabetes

Magnesium helps enzymes that control blood sugar and insulin activity. Prospective studies show an association of diets low in magnesium with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes ⁽¹⁵⁾.

In comparison, the results of a study in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism suggested that the stimulus of cannabinoid receptors CB-1 in the islet (cluster) cells within the pancreas might be linked to insulin production ⁽¹⁶⁾.

In another 2016 study, researchers from the University of Nottingham found that when CBD was used in conjunction with cannabis compound THCV, it helped increase insulin production and lower blood sugar in those with type 2 diabetes ⁽¹⁷⁾.

Conclusion

Magnesium and CBD possess similar therapeutic benefits. However, they work in immensely different ways and no study explicitly says CBD can be used in place of magnesium. 

Moreover, there is no data available on the adverse effects that may result from an interaction between CBD and magnesium. Neither is there a study that says the two substances may be safely taken together.

For these reasons, one should consult with a medical professional before supplementing with both CBD and magnesium and taking them together.

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