Study: CBD Protects Insulin-Producing Cells in Obesity, Boosts Key Metabolic Pathway

New research published in Molecular Biology Reports finds that CBD may help protect insulin-producing pancreatic cells in the context of obesity, potentially pointing to a new avenue for addressing metabolic dysfunction linked to high-fat diets. The study was conducted by researchers from Islamic Azad University, who examined the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) and aerobic training, both individually and in combination, on beta-cell function in an animal model of diet-induced obesity. Beta-cells are responsible for producing insulin, and their dysfunction plays a central role in the development of type 2 diabetes.

To induce obesity, 32 male Wistar rats were fed a high-fat diet for eight weeks. The animals were then divided into four groups: sedentary obese rats, obese rats given CBD (10 mg/kg five times weekly), obese rats undergoing aerobic treadmill training (30 minutes at 50% to 80% maximal speed, five times weekly), and a group receiving both CBD and aerobic training. The interventions continued for another eight weeks.

Rats treated with CBD alone or in combination with exercise showed significant improvements in beta-cell function, measured using the HOMA-Beta index, compared to sedentary obese rats. The improvements were statistically significant, with p-values of 0.002 for CBD alone and 0.001 for the combined treatment. Aerobic training by itself did not significantly improve beta-cell function.

At the molecular level, all three intervention groups experienced significant increases in pancreatic gene expression of PI3K, AKT and PDX1, key components of a pathway involved in cell survival and insulin regulation. The combined CBD and exercise group demonstrated a synergistic effect, with greater gene expression increases than either treatment alone.

Researchers concluded that CBD activates the PI3K/AKT/PDX1 signaling pathway and improves functional beta-cell mass in obese rats. While aerobic training also stimulated this pathway, only CBD produced measurable improvements in beta-cell function. The findings highlight a potential mechanism through which cannabinoids may help protect pancreatic health in obesity, though further research in humans will be necessary.