Cannabigerol (CBG) may help protect the kidneys from early damage caused by diets high in fat and sugar, according to a new study.

Researchers examined the effects of CBG on kidney lipid metabolism in male Wistar rats fed a high-fat, high-sucrose diet for six weeks. Such diets are associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes and metabolic disturbances that can contribute to kidney disease.

The rats were divided into four groups: a control group, a group given CBG, a group fed the high-fat, high-sucrose diet and a group that received both the diet and CBG. The cannabinoid was administered during the final two weeks of the experiment.

Researchers analyzed kidney tissue and urine samples to measure fatty acid composition, lipid accumulation, fatty acid transporters and enzymes involved in fat production and breakdown.

The high-fat, high-sucrose diet disrupted lipid regulation in the kidneys, increasing levels of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids and altering processes involved in fatty acid desaturation and elongation.

CBG treatment reduced the accumulation of triacylglycerols, a type of stored fat, and helped restore polyunsaturated fatty acid levels in kidney phospholipids. The findings suggest that CBG improved the overall balance of lipids within the kidneys.

The cannabinoid also increased levels of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 and lipoprotein lipase, proteins involved in fatty acid breakdown and metabolism. At the same time, it reduced levels of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 and fatty acid synthase, which are involved in producing and storing fat.

Researchers said these changes indicate that CBG shifted kidney metabolism toward increased fatty acid oxidation and reduced fat production.

The study concludes that CBG may help mitigate early lipid-related kidney injury associated with metabolic disorders. However, the research was conducted in rats, and additional studies are needed to determine whether similar effects occur in humans.