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Title: Hebrew University Study Finds CBD and CBG May Help Reverse Fatty Liver Disease
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Meta Description: A Hebrew University study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology found CBD and CBG improved fatty liver markers in animal models.
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Hebrew University Study Finds CBD and CBG May Help Reverse Fatty Liver Disease

The animal study identifies two specific mechanisms — energy storage and cellular cleanup — that explain how non-psychoactive cannabis compounds reduced liver fat and improved metabolic markers.

By CBDWorldNews Editorial Staff | April 28, 2026

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Dek: Published in the British Journal of Pharmacology, the research offers the clearest picture yet of how CBD and CBG interact with liver cells, though human trials are still needed.

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Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have published findings showing that two non-psychoactive cannabis compounds — cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG) — reduced liver fat and improved metabolic health markers in animal models of fatty liver disease. The study, published March 5 in the British Journal of Pharmacology, provides detailed mechanistic data that goes beyond simply observing symptom improvement.

What the Researchers Found

The study tested CBD and CBG on animal models fed high-fat diets designed to produce metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease, the condition commonly known as fatty liver disease. Both compounds produced measurable improvements across several markers.

Blood sugar control improved. Harmful lipids including triglycerides and ceramides — both linked to insulin resistance and liver inflammation — decreased. And the liver itself showed reduced fat accumulation.

But the study’s most significant contribution lies in identifying how these changes happened, not just that they did.

Two Mechanisms at Work

The researchers pinpointed two specific pathways through which CBD and CBG affected liver cells.

Phosphocreatine buffering. Both compounds increased phosphocreatine levels in liver tissue. Phosphocreatine acts as an energy reserve — think of it as a backup battery that helps the liver maintain normal function under the metabolic stress caused by a high-fat diet. When the liver can draw on stored energy more effectively, it handles fat processing more efficiently.

Lysosomal restoration. The compounds restored the activity of cathepsins, enzymes that function inside cellular structures called lysosomes. Lysosomes are the cell’s recycling centers, and cathepsins are the workers that break down waste. In fatty liver disease, this cleanup system slows down, allowing harmful fats and cellular debris to accumulate. CBD and CBG got the system working again.

> “Both treatments significantly reduced harmful lipids such as triglycerides and ceramides, which are known to contribute to insulin resistance and liver inflammation.” — Study findings, British Journal of Pharmacology

CBG Showed Stronger Effects on Some Measures

While both compounds produced positive results, CBG appeared to outperform CBD on certain metrics. CBG significantly reduced body fat mass and improved insulin sensitivity more robustly than CBD in the animal models tested.

This finding adds to growing interest in CBG as a distinct cannabinoid with its own therapeutic profile rather than simply a precursor compound. The [CBG product category](https://cbdproducts.com/cbg-products) has expanded steadily as consumer awareness of minor cannabinoids grows.

Why This Matters for Consumers

Fatty liver disease affects an estimated 30% of the global population. The metabolic version of the condition — driven by diet, obesity, and insulin resistance rather than alcohol consumption — has become one of the most common liver disorders worldwide. Current treatment options focus primarily on lifestyle changes like diet and exercise, with limited pharmaceutical options.

The study does not prove that CBD or CBG supplements will treat fatty liver disease in humans. Animal models provide useful preliminary data, but the compounds may behave differently in human metabolism. The dosages used in the study may not translate directly to consumer product concentrations.

What the study does provide is a plausible biological explanation for effects that some users report anecdotally. That mechanistic clarity — showing exactly how the compounds interact with liver cells rather than just correlating intake with outcomes — gives future researchers specific pathways to test in human clinical trials.

The Broader Research Landscape

This study joins more than 70 cannabis-related studies published in 2026 covering applications from pain relief to cancer to brain injury. The research base for cannabinoids continues to expand, though it remains uneven. CBD’s effects on epilepsy and anxiety carry the strongest clinical evidence, while areas like liver health and metabolic function are still in earlier stages.

For consumers interested in CBD or CBG products, the research underscores why [third-party lab testing](https://safecbd.com/lab-testing) matters. Knowing exactly what cannabinoids a product contains — and in what concentrations — becomes more important as the science distinguishes between compounds that may have different effects.

Important Limitations

The Hebrew University team noted several caveats. The study used animal models, not human subjects. Dosages were controlled in ways that consumer products cannot replicate. And the long-term effects of sustained CBD and CBG use on liver health remain an open question — particularly given that the FDA’s own research has flagged liver enzyme elevations in some human subjects taking CBD at doses between 250 and 550 milligrams per day.

More research is needed, and the team has said as much publicly. But the mechanistic findings give the field specific hypotheses to test in human trials rather than just broad associations to investigate.

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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. CBD products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.