Cannabinoids CBD and CBG May Improve Fatty Liver Disease

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This article was originally written and posted on March 20, 2026, and was updated on April 18, 2026.

Practitioner’s Preface

In my almost 18 years of private clinical practice, I have seen fatty liver disease frequently, including in children and teenagers. In younger clients, it is almost always associated with high dietary intake of fructose, in juices, coffee beverages, and pop. In older adults, a diagnosis is often made when having an ultrasound for an unrelated condition, and an initial diagnosis is often made when getting routine blood work that includes liver enzymes, like gamma GT, ALT, and AST.

Teaching people about the simple changes that they can make in dietary intake to bring liver enzymes into the normal range is part of what I do in my practice regularly, and it is of interest that two non-psychoactive cannabis compounds, CBD and CBG, may be able to help.

Can CBD and CBG Help Treat Fatty Liver Disease?

Recent research shows that non-psychoactive cannabis compounds like CBD (cannabidiol) and CBG (cannabigerol) can significantly improve fatty liver disease. These compounds possess strong anti-inflammatory and metabolic-improving properties that help reduce liver fat accumulation and clear triglycerides without causing a psychological high.

In recent years, cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG), which are two non-psychoactive cannabinoids from the cannabis (marijuana) plant, have been attracting attention as a potential treatment for fatty liver disease due to their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and metabolic-improving properties [1]. Since CBD and CBG are non-psychoactive, they do not result in the characteristic “high” associated with the psychoactive cannabinoid THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol).

An experimental animal study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology on March 5, 2026, reported that two non-psychoactive cannabis compounds, known as cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG), may improve fatty liver disease, as well as high blood sugar, high cholesterol, and insulin resistance associated with obesity [1]. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), now called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), is the most common chronic liver disorder in the world, affecting almost one-third of the adult population [2]. While this study is in an animal model, the findings are significant and provide possible adjunct treatment using safe and legally available cannabinoids.

How Does Insulin Resistance Contribute to Fatty Liver Disease?

Insulin resistance stops fat cells from receiving the signal to store fat, causing them to constantly leak free fatty acids into the bloodstream. The liver then faces an overload from both food fats and leaked body fats, triggering chronic low-grade inflammation.

Insulin resistance, which is one of the hallmarks of metabolic dysfunction, causes the fat cells (adipocytes) to become “deaf” to insulin’s signal. Even though there is plenty of carbohydrate and fat in meals, the fat cells (adipocytes) don’t get the message to stop releasing their contents. Since the insulin “stop switch” is broken, the fat cells constantly leak free fatty acids into the bloodstream. As a result, the liver has to deal with two massive streams of fat at once: the dietary fat coming from food, and the leaked fat coming from the body’s storage, and these metabolic disturbances often occur along with chronic, low-grade inflammation.

As there is no medication approved for the treatment of fatty liver disease, dietary and lifestyle changes are the cornerstone of care for fatty liver disease.

What Do Studies Show About Using Cannabinoids in Fatty Liver?

Animal model trials demonstrate that targeted daily doses of non-psychoactive cannabinoids help repair obesity-related health issues. These clinical models reveal how regular administration can correct complex metabolic dysfunction, lower fasting blood sugar, and clear fat accumulation in liver tissue safely.

How Was the Cannabinoid Fatty Liver Study Structured?

The trial structured an evaluation using models fed a high-fat diet for fourteen weeks to cause obesity. Researchers then provided daily abdominal injections of different dosages of CBD and CBG over four weeks to observe the exact metabolic effects.

To induce diet-induced obesity, this experimental study used male mice that were fed either a High-Fat Diet (HFD), which was 60% kcal from fat, 20% protein, 20% carbohydrate, or a Standard Chow Diet (STD) for 14 weeks. After the 14 weeks, to evaluate the metabolic effects of phytocannabinoid treatment, the mice continued on their respective diets for an additional 4 weeks (28 days), during which they received daily injections of either CBD or CBG into their abdomen.

  • The dosage of cannabidiol (CBD) was 5 mg/kg per day for the first 21 days (3 weeks), then increased to 10 mg/kg per day for the final week (7 days)
  • Dosage of cannabigerol (CBG) was 12.5 mg/kg per day for the first 21 days (3 weeks), then increased to 25 mg/kg per day for the final week (7 days)

What Were the Results of CBD and CBG Treatment?

Both cannabis compounds successfully normalized fasting glucose levels, cleared triglycerides, and reduced total and LDL cholesterol. However, CBG proved significantly more effective than CBD at dropping actual body fat mass and restoring high insulin sensitivity in obese groups.

Analysis of body composition of the mice confirmed that High-Fat Diet-fed mice had an expected increase in fat mass and a decrease in lean mass compared to the control group fed the Standard Chow Diet (STD). In the obese mice, CBG was found to be significantly more effective at reducing body fat and increasing insulin sensitivity than CBD.

Body Fat

  • Treatment with CBG (cannabigerol) significantly reduced fat mass and increased lean mass in the High-Fat Diet-fed mice.
  • Treatment with CBD (cannabidiol) showed a trend toward reducing fat and slightly increasing lean mass, but these changes were not large enough to be statistically significant.

Fatty Liver

High-Fat Diet-fed mice were found to have extensive microvesicular fatty liver (steatosis), which is where fat is broken up into many tiny, individual droplets (vesicles) that fill the cell but leave the nucleus in the center, as well as fat accumulation.

  • Both microvascular fatty liver and fat accumulation were substantially improved in both the CBD (cannabidiol) and CBG (cannabigerol)-treated groups.

Blood Glucose

Fasting blood glucose levels were significantly higher in High-Fat Diet-fed mice relative to Standard Chow Diet (STD) controls.

  • Both CBD (cannabidiol) and CBG (cannabigerol) normalised fasting glucose concentrations, and there was improved glucose clearance in the cannabinoid-treated groups.

Insulin Sensitivity

To determine insulin sensitivity, the Homeostatic Model Assessment (HOMA-IR) was calculated.

The HOMA-IR is a test that uses a simultaneous fasting blood glucose test and fasting insulin test to accurately estimate the degree of insulin resistance (IR) and β-cell function (the cells of the pancreas that produce insulin). Alternatively, HOMA-IR can also be determined from a simultaneous fasting blood glucose test and a fasting C-peptide test [3]. Since C-peptide is released in proportion to insulin, it can be used to estimate insulin. Read more about the HOMA-IR test.

Not surprisingly, the High-Fat Diet-fed mice were found to have a substantial increase in HOMA-IR.

  • HOMA-IR was significantly reduced by CBG (cannabigerol) and partially reduced by CBD (cannabidiol).

Triglyceride Levels

Serum lipid profiling revealed modest increases in Triglyceride (TG) levels in High-Fat Diet-fed mice compared to the Standard Chow Diet (STD)-fed controls.

  • Triglyceride (TG) levels were significantly reduced by both CBD (cannabidiol) and CBG (cannabigerol).

Cholesterol Levels

Both Total Cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels were significantly elevated in High-Fat Diet-fed mice.

  • Treatment with either CBD (cannabidiol) or CBG (cannabigerol) cannabinoids significantly decreased total cholesterol and LDL levels, with CBG exerting the most pronounced effect.

Can Cannabinoids Help Treat Obesity-Related Metabolic Disorders?

Phytocannabinoids show strong therapeutic potential to improve key signs of metabolic dysfunction without causing a psychological high. Regularly taking these elements helps repair glucose intolerance, poor cholesterol levels, and fat accumulation (steatosis) caused by poor high-fat food habits.

Together, the findings of this study show that non-psychoactive cannabinoid administration, especially CBG (cannabigerol), improves the key features of obesity-related metabolic dysfunction, including adiposity, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia, and MASLD.

These results highlight the therapeutic potential of phytocannabinoids in the management of metabolic disorders associated with HFD consumption.

Is Cannabis a Treatment for Fatty Liver Disease?

Animal studies have found that non-psychoactive cannabis compounds like CBD and CBG offer a promising adjunct alongside dietary changes, and since there is currently no approved pharmaceutical drug for fatty liver disease, this research provides a potential therapeutic focus for future human studies.

At present, since there is no pharmaceutical treatment for fatty liver disease, and cannabis and its compounds are legal in Canada, use of the non-psychoactive cannabinoids CBG (cannabigerol) and CBD (cannabidiol) may offer a potential adjunct treatment.

More Info

Dietitians use targeted food alterations to bring high liver enzymes back to normal safe ranges, and teaching people about easy dietary changes that they can make to bring the high liver enzymes associated with fatty liver into the normal range is something I do in my practice all the time.

It is good to know that non-psychoactive cannabis compounds, such as CBG, may help in the process; however, people should first discuss adding them with their doctor.

Specialized dietary packages to design a personalized Meal Plan to help improve the markers of fatty liver disease and lower insulin resistance are the primary treatment. Combining professional nutrition support with custom lifestyle strategies safely targets high cholesterol and blood sugar issues, and I have almost two decades of experience helping people reduce fatty liver disease, as well as blood sugar, high cholesterol, and insulin resistance. Learn about me and the Comprehensive Dietary Package that I offer.

To your good health!

Joy

You can follow me on:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jyerdile
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Clinical Summary

Emerging research indicates that non-psychoactive cannabinoids are useful adjunct choices to address fatty liver conditions. While lifestyle changes are the main requirement, adding compounds like CBG helps normalize blood pressure, insulin resistance, and chronic liver inflammation safely.

Q: Can non-psychoactive cannabinoids like CBD and CBG help treat fatty liver disease?

A: While dietary changes remain the primary treatment for fatty liver disease (MASLD), emerging research into non-psychoactive compounds like CBD and CBG shows interesting potential as a helpful adjunct option, especially given the rising rates of the condition linked to high fructose intake.

Q: Should patients with elevated liver enzymes consider using CBG?

A: For patients with significantly elevated liver enzymes due to fatty liver, discussing the addition of non-psychoactive cannabis compounds like CBG with a physician may be a valuable therapeutic adjunct to standard dietary interventions.

References

  1. Kočvarová, R., Azar, S., Agranovich, B., Abramovich, I., Kirillov, S., Nemirovski, A., Baraghithy, S., Plaschkes, I., Merquiol, E., Rouvinski, A., Blum, G., Hinden, L., & Tam, J. (2026). Cannabidiol and cannabigerol ameliorate steatotic liver disease via phosphocreatine buffering and lysosomal restoration. British Journal of Pharmacology, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.70387
  2. Miao, L., Targher, G., Byrne, C. D., Cao, Y.-Y., & Zheng, M.-H. (2024). Current status and future trends of the global burden of MASLD. Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism, 35, 697–707. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tem.2024.02.007
  3. Crofts C. Understanding and Diagnosing Hyperinsulinemia. [Doctoral Thesis]. Auckland, New Zealand: AUT University; 2015. p. 205.

 

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