Page 24 - Today's Dietitian (March 2020)

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ingredient.” Individual states have full spectrum CBD products—you need Cautionary Notes
passed legislation allowing the sale of a much higher dose for efficacy.” Due to questions surrounding federal
CBD products. Bissex notes that hemp was a legal regulation, the complexities of manu-
Many companies, particularly larger pharmacological ingredient until less facturing, and the sourcing of CBD,
manufacturers, have avoided entering the than 100 years ago. “Then it became “the CBD beverage landscape is con-
market until FDA regulations are estab- vilified because of its association with fusing and inconsistent,” Lagano says.
lished. Moving forward, FDA regulation THC and the overconsumption of THC. “CBD and cannabis use in beverages is
of CBD in beverages would provide rules Although the hemp plant is extremely not standardized, and the sources of
and guidelines for manufacturers and low in THC, consumption could trig- CBD vary. Some companies try to cir-
could protect consumers from substan- ger a positive drug test. That is why cumvent FDA guidelines by claiming
dard or inaccurately labeled products. it’s important to buy CBD products their products contain hemp oil. But if
Regulatory inconsistencies also con- that have zero THC. The hemp plant that oil is from hemp seeds, it will con-
fuse consumers. In October 2019, the has hundreds of beneficial phytocom- tain little CBD. The source needs to be
Grocery Manufacturers Association pounds, so look for CBD sources with hemp/CBD oil. Bioavailability is vari-
reported on research regarding consum- just the THC removed rather than CBD able, and extraction methods vary.
ers’ assumptions about CBD, stating that isolates that have only CBD.” Effects will differ based on the form and
“a whopping 92% of American consumers Broad spectrum CBD includes all of format of the CBD, along with a person’s
incorrectly assume or have no idea if CBD the cannabinoids and terpenes from biochemical individuality, microbiome,
is federally regulated. Upon learning that the cannabis plant except THC, while and endocannabinoid system. The good
CBD products are not regulated federally, full spectrum also includes THC. The news is that the industry is trying to
82% of respondents were concerned.” 8 term “entourage effect” describes a mimic the supplement industry with
theory that a product with a broad or detailed labels.”
CBD Beverage Marketplace full spectrum of terpenes, flavonoids, In September 2019, the Academy of
Despite the fact CBD isn’t federally cannabinoids, and other botanicals Nutrition and Dietetics (the Academy)
regulated, beverages are a hot bed of delivers synergistic ingredients that issued a public policy statement that
innovation regarding CBD. Accord- can enhance one another’s efficacy. recommends caution around consum-
ing to Innova Market Insights, bever- Beverages also may incorporate ing food items with CBD because of
ages hold seven of the top 10 positions other functional compounds such as the “lack of rigorous scientific trials
for new product launches containing L-theanine, an amino acid analogue and data regarding dosing, effective-
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CBD—flavored bottled water, tea, car- said to promote relaxation. ness, and safety.” The Academy also
bonates, noncarbonated soft drinks, One factor to note is that CBD doesn’t noted its intention to support advo-
iced tea, ready-to-drink sports drinks, mix well with water and can separate cacy efforts to secure funding to close
and unflavored bottled water. CBD- out or adhere to the inside of the bever- the research gap regarding CBD and
infused beverages are more popular age bottle over time, so it’s hard to know THC as food additives, including
than beverages containing THC or CBD exactly how much gets consumed. Sepa- research on differential effects across
plus alcohol. Despite the lack of clar- ration also decreases bioavailability. In the lifecycle; monitoring legislative
ity in regulations, CBD is widely avail- addition, one manufacturer states that and regulatory initiatives related
able, easy to add to beverages, and less 90% or more of the CBD particles in a to CBD and marijuana as the evi-
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strictly regulated than THC. CBD bev- typical CBD beverage product are too dence base is further established, and
erages appeal to general consumers for large to be incorporated into cells in the reviewing and updating policy stances
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their therapeutic benefits and calm- body. Some manufacturers try to over- and recommendations accordingly;
ing properties and to those who use it come this by using nano-emulsion tech- and communicating the potential for
medicinally to treat a variety of con- nology to improve bioavailability. In misuse, consumer confusion, and a
ditions. Because CBD doesn’t have the nano-enhanced CBD, also called nano- lack of sufficient scientific substantia-
intoxicating properties that THC does, CBD, clustered CBD isolate molecules tion in the marketing of CBD in food
it’s less likely to have negative effects if are broken down into extremely small, products and the use of associated
overconsumed. water-soluble particles that are said to health claims.
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“Incorporating CBD into beverages be absorbed rapidly and able to cross the In the absence of regulations, prod-
is relatively easy using a CBD powder blood-brain barrier. uct quality and CBD-related claims are
or CBD dissolved in a water-soluble The CBD dosage in beverages currently inconsistent. Bissex highlights an FDA
liquid,” Bissex says. “Most research on the market generally ranges from 10 finding that a majority of CBD products
studies use a CBD isolate product so the mg to about 25 mg per serving. “It’s impor- on the market are mislabeled, including
dose can be precisely controlled, and tant to ask clients how much they’re that 1 in 10 contain zero CBD. Lagano’s
many manufacturers add this inex- drinking,” Bissex says. “Someone who is presentation at FNCE® emphasized the
pensive CBD isolate to their products. having several drinks a day may be getting importance of third-party laboratory
The downside is that because the iso- much more than the minimally effective testing, labeling, quality seals, and Cer-
late doesn’t have the synergistic benefit dose of CBD.” The form of CBD, namely, tified Good Manufacturing Practices
of the other cannabinoids—the flavo- conventional vs nano-enhanced, impacts (CGMP) to identify quality products
noids and terpenes found in broad or the speed of absorption and action. with a reliable CBD content.

24 TODAY’S DIETITIAN • MARCH 2020