The effect of hemp product consumption on blood fatty acid profiles and cardiovascular disease risk factors: results of a randomized, double-blind, crossover clinical trial

Hemp seeds are high in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) including gamma linolenic acid (GLA), stearidonic acid (SDA), alpha linolenic acid (ALA) and linoleic acid (LA). To date, limited evidence is available on hemp product consumption and particularly hemp seeds and oil in humans and its relation to cardiometabolic risk factors. The objective of present study was to examine the effects of hemp product consumption versus similar controls on circulating fatty acid profiles and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. A randomized, double-blinded, crossover trial with 30 normoglycemic adults (18–65 years) within a BMI range of 25–35 kg m⁻² were included. Participants consumed both hemp products and controlled products over the course of 4 weeks each. As expected, ALA (18:3 n-3), GLA (18:3 n-6) and dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA, 20:3 n-6) were elevated after the hemp treatment than controls. Similarly, ALA, DGLA as well as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) levels were elevated after the hemp treatment than controls. No differences in serum lipid levels, glucose and insulin concentrations, blood pressure, or body composition were observed between treatments. Overall, consumption of hemp products modulated plasma and RBC fatty acids levels in a way which reflected the fatty acids these products are enriched in, without showing differences in major cardiometabolic risk factors. The present study demonstrated the human fatty acids profile response to consuming hemp products, novel functional foods rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids. The clinical trial registry number is NCT02400203 (https://clinicaltrials.gov).