Cannabidiol (CBD) gummies are being promoted for a wide range of functions, from enhancing sleep to relieving stress to even improving erectile dysfunction (ED). CBD gummies for men are often marketed to improve vitality, virility and sexual function.
But is there any evidence in research studies that CBD gummies can actually improve men’s health? If so, which CBD gummy brand is the best-formulated? Why may CBD oil be a healthier choice than CBD gummies? And are some CBD gummy supplements tainted?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze medical studies on CBD supplementation to share our thoughts on whether or not CBD gummies can improve some aspects of men’s health.
We’ll also give our take on why CBD oil is a healthier choice than CBD gummies in most cases, and feature a YouTube video that lab-tested and investigated whether some popular CBD brands were tainted.
Does CBD Enhance Men’s Health?
One of the most important factors for men’s health is optimal hormone function.
Testosterone is a steroid hormone that is associated with improved physical and mental well-being, and declines with age.
CBD was shown to have no effect on testosterone function in a test tube study, but was shown to reduce circulating testosterone levels in an animal study published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology.
It’s worth noting that the above-linked animal study used a human-equivalent dose that’s far higher than most CBD supplements.
A 2020 medical review on CBD and male reproductive health concluded that “it is possible to conclude that CBD has negative effects on the reproductive system of males.”
As we documented in our article on CBD gummies for erectile dysfunction, there are research studies showing health benefits to CBD supplementation, but we can’t find any studies suggesting that CBD supplementation benefits men’s health specifically, or any hormonal parameter of men’s health.
Based on our research, CBD does not appear to enhance testosterone status, fertility or libido in men.
But why are CBD gummies a less healthy option than CBD oil? We’ll share our thoughts in the next section of this article.
CBD Gummies vs. CBD Oil
The active ingredient in CBD gummies and CBD oil is the same, but the inactive ingredients make the crucial difference from a health perspective.
Consider the ingredient list from a popular CBD gummy brand shown below:
Added sugar (in two forms) is the first ingredient by weight, and excess sugar consumption is clinically shown to be associated with increased inflammation in the body.
Many Americans already consume excess sugar from their diet, so we consider it logical to reduce sugar intake from dietary supplements.
This supplement also contains other questionable additives, and as we documented in our article on the healthiest CBD gummies, we can’t find any CBD gummies that are entirely free of questionable additives.
CBD oil, on the other hand, typically has no unhealthy additives at all, because it’s not marketed to taste similar to candy.
Consider the ingredient list from a popular CBD oil brand shown below:
There’s no added sugar or questionable additives at all.
For any consumer considering CBD for the health benefits, we recommend CBD oil over CBD gummies.
Is Your CBD Mislabeled?
A YouTube segment from the "PBS Vitals" channel discusses how to determine if your CBD is legit or not:
Do CBD Gummies Cause Side Effects?
While CBD is not psychoactive like some other cannabinoids derived from the cannabis plant, it still may cause side effects in some men.
A medical review published in the Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research journal reported on side effects from CBD supplementation:
"...the most commonly reported side effects were tiredness, diarrhea, and changes of appetite/weight."
The researchers also noted that compared to other drugs, CBD had a favorable side effect profile.
More serious but rare potential side effects from CBD such as sedation, lethargy, upper respiratory infections, and seizures may occur, particularly when mixed with other prescription drugs, according to a 2020 meta-study.
We consider the risk of side effects to be higher with CBD gummies than with CBD oil due to the inactive ingredients.
As we documented in our Proper CBD Gummies reviews article, an inactive ingredient called citric acid that's used as a flavor enhancer has been clinically shown to cause whole-body inflammation in some individuals.
Can Ginseng Naturally Improve Sex Drive?
Panax ginseng, which is a plant native to Asia, has been studied in various clinical trials for its ability to improve sex drive and erections in men.
A clinical trial published in The Journal of Urology found that after eight weeks of treatment, erectile function scores were "significantly higher" in the ginseng group than the group taking placebo pills.
A 2013 medical review found that libido and sexual performance were significantly improved with ginseng supplementation.
Illuminate Labs sells a Panax Ginseng Extract Supplement which is third-party tested to ensure label accuracy, potency and purity, and which contains no questionable additive ingredients.
Interested consumers can check out Illuminate Labs Panax Ginseng Extract at this link to the product page on our website, where the supplement can be purchased for only $15 on a subscription basis.
