CBD for sleep after late-evening workouts

The Effect of CBD on Sleep Quality Following Late Evening Exercise

This trial tests whether taking CBD after a late-evening high-intensity workout helps healthy, recreationally active adults aged 18–40 sleep better.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 20 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 40 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: KU Leuven (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant)
• Trial ID: NCT07570472 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial enrolling 20 participants. Each person completes three overnight sessions—one rest night and two late-evening high-intensity interval training (HIIT) nights—separated by a one-week washout, with sleep monitored by polysomnography. During the HIIT nights participants receive two 200 mg doses of cannabidiol (CBD) or matching placebo in randomized order. Eligibility requires ages 18–40, recreational activity of 2–8 hours per week, good health confirmed by sports medical screening, and sex-specific body-fat limits.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Healthy, recreationally active adults aged 18–40 who can attend in-person overnight sessions in Leuven, meet body-fat and contraceptive requirements, and pass a sports medical screening.

Not a fit: People outside the 18–40 age range, those who are sedentary, have higher body-fat percentages, untreated sleep disorders, are pregnant or not using effective contraception, or who cannot attend overnight visits likely would not benefit from or be eligible for this protocol.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If effective, CBD could help people who exercise late in the evening sleep more soundly and recover better overnight.

How similar studies have performed: Prior research on CBD and sleep is limited and mixed, and its specific effects on post-exercise sleep have not been well established, so this design addresses a relatively novel question.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Voluntary written informed consent of the participant or their legally authorized representative has been obtained prior to any screening procedures
2. Use of highly effective methods of birth control during the entire trial and for up to 4 months after the last dose of CBD; defined as those that, alone or in combination, result in low failure rate (i.e., less than 1% per year) when used consistently and correctly; such as implants, injectables, combined oral contraceptives, some IUDs, true sexual abstinence (i.e. refraining from heterosexual intercourse during the entire period of risk associated with the Trial treatment(s)) or commitment to a vasectomised partner.
3. Age between 18-40 years old at the time of signing the Informed Consent Form (ICF)
4. Recreationally active (between 2-8h/wk)
5. Good health status confirmed by a sport medical screening
6. Body fat percentage below 20% (males) or 25% (females) as estimated by a Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan
7. Good sleep efficiency determined by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI, score ≤ 4)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Self-reported sleep disturbances
2. Habitual smoking (\> 1 occasion/month)
3. Any kind of injury/incapability that is a contra-indication to perform high intensity interval training
4. Female who is pregnant, breast-feeding or intends to become pregnant or is of child-bearing potential and not using an adequate, highly effective contraceptive. A woman is considered of childbearing potential (WOCBP), i.e. fertile, following menarche and until becoming post menopausal unless permanently sterile. Permanent sterilisation methods include hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy and bilateral oophorectomy.
5. Participation in another interventional Trial with an investigational medicinal product (IMP) or device
6. Use of CBD related products 3 months prior to the start of the experimental trial (including CBD oil, cannabis or other substances containing cannabinoids)
7. Intake of any medication or nutritional supplement that influences sleep quality 3 months prior to the start of the experimental trial
8. Shift workers or extreme morning and evening chronotypes (scores between 16-30 or 70-86 on the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ))

Where this trial is running

Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant

• Bakala Athletic Performance Facility — Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium (Recruiting)

Conditions Sleep Quality; Cannabidiol; Sleep quality; Late evening exercise; Polysomnography