Study: CBD Promotes Intestinal Stem Cell Regeneration Following Radiation Exposure

According to a study published in the journal Experimental & Molecular Medicine, cannabidiol (CBD) may help protect against radiation-related intestinal damage by stimulating the regeneration of intestinal stem cells.

Researchers from the Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine and Guangdong Pharmaceutical University examined how CBD affected mice exposed to a lethal dose of irradiation. The study focused on irradiation-induced gastrointestinal syndrome, a serious condition that can occur when radiation damages the intestinal tract.

The researchers found that CBD dramatically improved body weight loss in mice following irradiation and helped stimulate the proliferation of Lgr5+ intestinal stem cells, which play a key role in repairing and maintaining the intestinal lining.

Using lipidomics, the study found that irradiation disrupted fatty acids in intestinal crypts, but CBD helped restore those fatty acid changes. Researchers said this process was necessary for intestinal stem cell regeneration.

Further analysis found that CBD helped activate a pathway involving THOC3, Stat2 and PPARα, which ultimately supported fatty acid β-oxidation, a metabolic process tied to cell repair and regeneration. According to the study, CBD stabilized the THOC3 protein, helping restore the nuclear export of Stat2 mRNA after radiation exposure. This then helped activate PPARα, which promoted the fatty acid oxidation program and supported intestinal stem cell growth.

The findings suggest CBD may offer a potential path for treating irradiation-induced gastrointestinal syndrome, though the research was conducted in mice and additional studies would be needed to determine whether similar effects occur in humans.