Does CBD Oil Lower Cholesterol? Evidence and Statin Cautions
There's no good evidence CBD oil lowers cholesterol in people. Here's what the main trial found and why CBD may interact with some statins.
- Evidence
- Limited
- Sources
- 8 linked
- Sponsored
- No ✓
- Checked
- Nov 2026
There's no good evidence it does. A small 13-week trial found no meaningful cholesterol benefit from CBD, and CBD may raise levels of some statins, so ask your doctor first.
There is no good evidence that CBD oil lowers cholesterol in people. The main human trial to test it, a small 13-week study in adults with type 2 diabetes, found no meaningful improvement in cholesterol from CBD. If you take a statin or other heart medicine, the bigger issue is safety: CBD may raise blood levels of some statins, so talk to your doctor or pharmacist before combining them.
- Interest in CBD and cholesterol comes mostly from animal research, not human results.
- In a 2016 randomized trial of 62 adults with type 2 diabetes, CBD did not improve HDL (“good”) cholesterol, the study’s main goal.
- No CBD product is FDA-approved to lower cholesterol or treat heart disease.
- A 2021 review says CBD may increase blood levels of atorvastatin and simvastatin, though this is based mostly on lab and mechanism data.
- The FDA warns CBD can cause liver injury and change how other drugs work.
- Proven ways to lower cholesterol include diet, activity and prescribed medicines.
What is cholesterol, and why does it matter?
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance in your blood. The CDC explains that high levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol can lead to plaque buildup in your arteries, raising the risk of heart disease and stroke. HDL is called “good” cholesterol because higher levels can lower that risk.
The CDC says the only way to know whether you have high cholesterol is to get it checked, usually with a blood test called a lipid panel. Ask your healthcare team how often you should be screened.
Does CBD oil lower cholesterol? What the research shows
CBD (cannabidiol) is a non-intoxicating compound from the cannabis plant. For a basic overview, see what is CBD? Researchers became interested in CBD and blood fats because, as one team put it, CBD affects lipid and glucose metabolism in animal models. Animal results often do not carry over to people, though.
The clearest human test is a 2016 trial published in Diabetes Care. Researchers randomly assigned 62 adults with type 2 diabetes (not using insulin) to one of five groups, including CBD alone (100 mg twice a day) and a placebo, for 13 weeks. The main thing they measured was change in HDL cholesterol. They also tracked the full lipid profile, blood sugar, body weight, appetite and more.
The study’s summary reports no meaningful cholesterol benefit from CBD. Compared with where people started (but not compared with placebo), CBD lowered a hormone called resistin and raised a gut hormone called GIP. The researchers’ conclusion focused instead on a different cannabinoid, THCV, for blood sugar control. CBD was well tolerated.
| Question | What the evidence says |
|---|---|
| Does CBD lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol in people? | Not shown. No good human trial has found this. |
| Does CBD raise HDL (“good”) cholesterol? | The 2016 trial, which made HDL its main goal, did not find a benefit from CBD. |
| Is CBD approved for cholesterol or heart disease? | No. The only FDA-approved CBD drug, Epidiolex, is for certain seizure disorders. |
| Can CBD interact with cholesterol medicines? | Possibly. A 2021 review lists atorvastatin and simvastatin, mostly based on lab data. |
| What does lower cholesterol? | Diet and lifestyle changes and prescribed cholesterol-lowering medicines, according to the CDC. |
Why is the evidence so limited?
One small trial cannot settle a question. With 62 people split across five groups, each group had roughly a dozen people. Everyone in it had type 2 diabetes, so results may not apply to people without diabetes. And 13 weeks is short for judging long-term heart health.
No large, long-term trial has tested whether CBD changes cholesterol or lowers the risk of heart attacks and strokes, which is what really matters. Until that happens, CBD should not be used as a cholesterol treatment. Our editorial policy explains how we rate evidence like this.
Can you take CBD with statins?
This is the most practical question for many readers, and the answer is: only with your doctor or pharmacist involved.
Some statins are broken down by an enzyme called CYP3A4. The FDA explains this with grapefruit juice: grapefruit blocks CYP3A4, so more of certain statins, including simvastatin (Zocor) and atorvastatin (Lipitor), enters the blood. The FDA warns that too much statin raises the risk of liver and muscle damage that can lead to kidney failure.
CBD is also processed by CYP3A4 and a related enzyme, CYP2C19. A 2021 review in the Journal of General Internal Medicine says CBD may increase blood levels of some statins, specifically atorvastatin and simvastatin, but not pravastatin or rosuvastatin. The same review cautions that many CBD interactions are predicted from lab, animal or mechanism data and have not been confirmed in clinical use.
The human data are mixed. The Epidiolex prescribing label reports that CBD did not change levels of midazolam, another drug broken down by CYP3A4. But the label also advises considering a lower dose of drugs broken down by CYP2C19 when they are taken with Epidiolex, and it names clopidogrel, an anti-clotting medicine, as a drug whose dose may need adjusting. In short, an interaction with your heart medicines is possible, and only someone who knows your full medication list can judge the risk.
Important: Never stop or cut back a cholesterol medicine to try CBD instead. The CDC advises never stopping your medicine without first talking to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. If you take a statin and notice new or unusual side effects after starting CBD, contact your doctor promptly.
Are there other heart-related safety concerns with CBD?
The FDA’s main concerns with CBD apply to anyone with heart disease, too. The FDA says CBD “can cause liver injury” and “can affect how other drugs you are taking work, potentially causing serious side effects.” Liver problems may go unnoticed without blood tests ordered by a healthcare provider.
Other side effects the FDA lists include sleepiness, diarrhea, decreased appetite and mood changes. Taking more CBD does not make it safer; see can you overdose on CBD? for what is known about high amounts. If you stop CBD before a medication change, ask how long to wait; how long does CBD stay in your system? covers what is known.
Product quality adds risk. In a 2017 JAMA study, only about 31% of 84 CBD products bought online were accurately labeled for CBD, so the amount you actually take may differ from the label.
What actually helps lower cholesterol?
The CDC says you can lower LDL cholesterol with healthy lifestyle changes, such as choosing foods lower in saturated and trans fats and maintaining a healthy weight. Eating patterns with less dietary cholesterol are linked to lower heart disease risk. Many people also need cholesterol-lowering medicine prescribed by a doctor.
If you are thinking about CBD for any reason while managing cholesterol, these steps can help you do it safely:
- Know your numbers. Get a lipid panel so you and your doctor know your LDL, HDL and triglyceride levels.
- Bring a full medication list. Include statins, blood pressure drugs, anti-clotting medicines and supplements.
- Ask your pharmacist about interactions. Name the exact statin you take, since the review above flags some statins and not others.
- Check the product. Choose a product with a batch-specific lab report (certificate of analysis, or COA) so you know its CBD and THC content.
- Plan follow-up. Ask whether you need liver tests or a repeat lipid panel if you start CBD.
Tip: If your doctor agrees to CBD for another reason, our CBD dosage calculator converts the amount you agreed on into drops or mL for your specific bottle, so you take a consistent amount. It does not pick a dose for you.
Frequently asked questions
Can CBD replace my statin?
No. There is no good evidence that CBD lowers cholesterol, and statins are a proven treatment. Never stop a prescribed medicine without talking to your doctor.
Does CBD raise cholesterol?
There is no clear human evidence that it raises or lowers cholesterol. The main trial found no meaningful lipid changes from CBD.
Which statins might interact with CBD?
A 2021 review lists atorvastatin and simvastatin as possibly affected, but not pravastatin or rosuvastatin. This is based mainly on lab and mechanism data, so ask your pharmacist.
Is hemp seed oil good for cholesterol?
Hemp seed oil is a food oil, not a CBD product, and this article does not cover its effects. Read hemp oil vs CBD oil to understand the difference.
Does CBD affect weight or appetite?
Decreased appetite is a listed side effect. See does CBD increase appetite? for what studies show.
Sources
- Diabetes Care (via Europe PMC) — Jadoon et al., Efficacy and Safety of Cannabidiol and Tetrahydrocannabivarin on Glycemic and Lipid Parameters in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes (2016)
- Journal of General Internal Medicine (via PMC) — Balachandran et al., Cannabidiol Interactions with Medications, Illicit Substances, and Alcohol: a Comprehensive Review (2021)
- FDA — Grapefruit Juice and Some Drugs Don’t Mix
- DailyMed (NLM) — Epidiolex (cannabidiol) prescribing information
- FDA — What You Need to Know About Products Containing Cannabis or Cannabis-Derived Compounds, Including CBD
- CDC — About Cholesterol
- CDC — Treating High Cholesterol
- JAMA (via PMC) — Bonn-Miller et al., Labeling Accuracy of Cannabidiol Extracts Sold Online (2017)
Read nextDoes CBD Increase Appetite? Why It May Do the OppositeCBD isn't known to boost appetite. Decreased appetite is a listed side effect, seen in Epidiolex trials. The…
