CBD and CBG May Help Reduce Fatty Liver Disease

Fatty liver disease has quietly become one of the most widespread chronic health conditions in the world. Often developing with few noticeable symptoms in its early stages, the disorder can progress for years before being detected. Today, researchers estimate that roughly one in three adults globally is affected by some form of fatty liver disease, making it a major public health concern tied closely to modern lifestyle patterns.

Now, emerging research suggests that compounds derived from cannabis may play a role in addressing this growing problem. A new study¹ from researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has found that two non-intoxicating cannabinoids, cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG), may help the liver burn fat, restore metabolic balance, and reduce the harmful lipid buildup associated with fatty liver disease.

While the research is still in its early stages, the findings highlight a promising new direction for plant-based therapies aimed at metabolic health.

What Is Fatty Liver Disease (MASLD)?

Fatty liver disease occurs when excess fat accumulates inside liver cells, interfering with the organ’s ability to function properly. The liver plays a central role in metabolism, helping the body process nutrients, filter toxins, regulate blood sugar, and manage cholesterol levels. When fat begins to build up in this organ, it can disrupt these essential processes.

The condition most commonly discussed is metabolic dysfunction, associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. MASLD is strongly linked to modern metabolic disorders, including obesity, insulin resistance, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

Although fatty liver disease may begin as a relatively mild condition, it can progress if left untreated. Over time, the buildup of fat can lead to inflammation, liver scarring (fibrosis), and eventually more severe complications such as cirrhosis or liver failure.

One of the challenges with MASLD is that there are currently very few approved medications available to treat it directly. Physicians typically recommend lifestyle changes such as weight management, improved diet, and increased physical activity. While these interventions can be effective, maintaining them consistently over long periods can be difficult for many people.

Because of this treatment gap, scientists are actively exploring new therapeutic approaches, including the potential metabolic benefits of cannabinoids.

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How CBD and CBG Affect Liver Metabolism

CBD and CBG are two naturally occurring compounds found in cannabis plants. Unlike THC, they do not produce intoxicating or psychoactive effects, which makes them particularly interesting to researchers studying their medical potential.

The new study, led by Professor Joseph (Yossi) Tam and his team at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s School of Pharmacy, investigated how these cannabinoids affect liver metabolism. Using advanced scientific tools, researchers discovered that CBD and CBG appear to help liver cells function more efficiently through a process known as metabolic remodeling.

Rather than simply reducing fat accumulation, the cannabinoids seem to improve the way liver cells manage energy and dispose of metabolic waste. This dual effect may be key to understanding how these compounds could help counter fatty liver disease.

How Cannabinoids Boost Cellular Energy in the Liver

One of the most surprising discoveries in the study involved the liver’s internal energy storage system. Researchers found that CBD and CBG significantly increased phosphocreatine levels, a molecule that serves as a backup energy source within cells. Phosphocreatine functions like an emergency battery, helping cells maintain normal activity when they are under metabolic stress.

The liver typically does not rely heavily on this energy reserve system. However, in conditions such as a high-fat diet or metabolic dysfunction, having additional cellular energy can help liver cells maintain healthy function and prevent damage.

By boosting these energy reserves, CBD and CBG may help the liver maintain metabolic stability even when exposed to stressors that normally contribute to fat buildup.

How CBD and CBG Restore Liver Lipid Cleanup

The study also revealed that CBD and CBG appear to reactivate an important cellular recycling process. Inside cells are structures called lysosomes, which function as microscopic waste-processing centers. Lysosomes contain specialized enzymes that break down damaged molecules, excess lipids, and other unwanted materials so they can be safely removed from the cell.

In fatty liver disease, this cellular cleanup system often becomes impaired. When that happens, harmful lipid molecules accumulate inside liver cells, worsening metabolic dysfunction.

Microscopic visualization of a lysosome Clearing lipids.

Researchers also observed that CBD and CBG restored the activity of enzymes called cathepsins, which operate inside lysosomes. When these enzymes become active again, liver cells are better able to break down and remove excess fats.

As this recycling process improved, the study found significant reductions in several harmful lipid molecules associated with fatty liver disease, including triglycerides and ceramides. Ceramides are particularly concerning because they are closely linked to insulin resistance and chronic inflammation within the liver.

By restoring the liver’s ability to process and eliminate these lipids, CBD and CBG may help reverse some of the underlying metabolic damage that drives fatty liver disease.

Differences Between CBD and CBG

Although both cannabinoids showed beneficial effects, the study found that CBG may offer slightly stronger metabolic improvements in certain areas.

Both compounds helped stabilize blood sugar levels and improved how the body processes glucose, which is an important factor in metabolic health. However, CBG demonstrated greater impact in several key markers related to fatty liver disease.

According to the researchers, CBG significantly reduced body fat mass and produced stronger improvements in insulin sensitivity compared to CBD. It also showed a greater ability to lower total cholesterol and levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), often referred to as “bad” cholesterol.

These differences suggest that while both cannabinoids support metabolic health, they may work through slightly different pathways within the body.

Why Cannabinoids Could Matter for Fatty Liver Treatment

Fatty liver disease has become increasingly common in recent decades, largely due to rising rates of obesity, sedentary lifestyles, and metabolic disorders. Because the condition often develops silently, many people are unaware they have it until more serious complications appear.

Additionally, the lack of targeted medications has made treatment challenging. As a result, scientists are searching for therapies that address the underlying metabolic dysfunction driving the disease.

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The new research suggests that cannabinoids like CBD and CBG may influence two important biological systems at once: cellular energy production and cellular waste removal. By improving both processes, these compounds could help restore balance within liver cells and reduce the lipid buildup that defines fatty liver disease.

What Comes Next

Although the results are promising, researchers emphasize that more studies are needed before CBD or CBG can be considered treatments for fatty liver disease. Much of the current research is still in early experimental stages, and clinical trials will be necessary to determine how these findings translate to human therapies.

Future research may also explore optimal dosages, long-term safety, and whether cannabinoid-based treatments could be combined with existing lifestyle interventions to improve outcomes for patients.

Still, the study highlights an exciting possibility. As scientists continue to investigate the complex interactions between cannabinoids and human metabolism, plant-derived compounds such as CBD and CBG may open the door to new strategies for addressing metabolic diseases that affect millions of people worldwide.

For now, the findings add to a growing body of research suggesting that cannabis compounds may have far broader therapeutic potential than previously understood, particularly in areas related to inflammation, metabolism, and chronic disease.

Reference:

^{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}