Can CBN Oil Lower Cholesterol?

While your body needs cholesterol, when you have too much of it in your system, it can build up in your arteries and create health risks like heart disease. Doctors measure different types of cholesterol in a lipid profile. These include your:

• Total cholesterol
• Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), sometimes considered "bad" cholesterol
• High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HD), sometimes considered "good" cholesterol
• Triglycerides, a type of fat found in blood derived from food 

Characterizing LDL as bad cholesterol is a simplification since there are different types of LDL, and not all are bad. It's important to understand that cholesterol is necessary for optimal health, especially for your brain. If cholesterol levels in the brain get too low, it cannot function properly. This negatively impacts learning, memory, and mood regulation.

Your body takes about 20 percent of the cholesterol it requires from the food you eat, and the rest is made in the liver and intestines. Cholesterol is also important for the production of vitamin D and hormones, such as testosterone and estrogen. 

High cholesterol, however, can be detrimental to your overall health. High cholesterol is linked with atherosclerosis, or the hardening of the arteries, heart attacks, peripheral arterial disease, and strokes.

If your cholesterol level is too high, a healthy diet, exercise, and medication may help you reach healthy levels. Some researchers have also been studying the possibility that some cannabinoids – chemical compounds derived from the cannabis plant – may help lower the body’s cholesterol levels. One specific cannabinoid, called cannabinol (CBN), has been garnering attention. 

How CBN Impacts Your Endocannabinoid System

Cannabinol (CBN) is one of over 100 cannabinoids, or naturally occurring compounds, that scientists have identified in the cannabis plant. Other well-known cannabinoids derived from cannabis include cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG), and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). 

Cannabis products have become increasingly popular since the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp, and an increasing amount of research is being done to better understand the different cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant and how they might be beneficial to our health.

In addition to the cannabinoids derived from the cannabis plant, the human body also naturally produces its own cannabinoids, called endogenous cannabinoids. Cannabinoids from both cannabis and the human body interact with a complex system in the body known as the endocannabinoid system. 

The endocannabinoid system, discovered in the early 1990s, is made up of receptor sites that interact with cannabinoids to help the body regulate certain functions, such as those associated with sleep, stress, appetite, and more.

The endocannabinoid system’s receptors, which include CB1 receptors and CB2 receptors, are located throughout the body, such as the brain, connective tissue, immune cells, and organs. CB1 receptors are primarily located in the central nervous system, and CB2 receptors are primarily located throughout the immune system. 

Together, the endocannabinoid system and the cannabinoids it interacts with are believed to help the body regulate cognitive and physiological processes to help you remain healthy. 

Health Effects of Cannabinol (CBN)

Researchers have studied the effect of cannabinoids on cholesterol metabolism. In one study, they found THC, CBD, and CBN appeared to decrease LDL cholesterol in a cell culture. 

In another study, researchers found that a single dose of CBD could potentially lower resting blood pressure. It may also help lower the blood pressure increase associated with feelings of stress. Reducing blood pressure might also positively impact the microvessels in the eyes and kidneys. 

An earlier study suggested that activation of the CB2 receptors by various cannabinoids may help to limit LDL activity and reduce inflammation of cardiovascular tissue.

Cannabinoids, including CBN, have been linked to various potential health benefits. They may relieve soreness and discomfort and provide analgesic relief. They may also help alleviate airway symptoms associated with exposure to allergies, and they might even have neuroprotective properties that help support brain health. 

At this time, there is no conclusive evidence CBN affects cholesterol levels, but researchers are only beginning to discover the health benefits associated with CBN and are hopeful they’ll learn more soon about the ways CBN and other cannabinoids may optimize cholesterol levels and heart health.