Benefits and risks of consuming Cannabis sativa L. in food.

Matyjaszczyk E.; Śmiechowska M. · Journal of food and drug analysis · 2026

**Background & Methods** This is a review article examining the nutritional benefits and potential risks associated with consuming Cannabis sativa L. (hemp) seeds in food products. The analysis focuses exclusively on low-cannabinoid varieties and excludes discussion of cannabinoid biological activity and psychoactive effects. **Key Findings** - Hemp seeds provide complete protein nutrition comparable to egg whites and soya, with amino acid profiles supporting vegetarian and flexitarian dietary patterns in sustainable food consumption. - Hemp seed oil contains essential fatty acids—linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid—in an optimal 3:1 ratio, along with minerals, vitamins, and carbohydrates including dietary fiber, establishing hemp as a nutrient-dense food source. - Primary safety concerns include the plant's capacity to bioaccumulate toxic heavy metals from soil and the presence of anti-nutritional compounds that may impair nutrient absorption and utilization. **Dosage & Administration** Not reported. **Safety & Adverse Effects** The review identifies heavy metal accumulation as a characteristic hazard, with hemp demonstrating particular ability to concentrate toxic metals from growing environments. Anti-nutritional substances present in hemp seeds represent an additional safety concern, though specific compounds and their clinical implications are not detailed. No acute adverse effects from hemp seed consumption are explicitly reported in this review. **Evidence Quality** This review article presents a narrative synthesis of existing literature rather than original research data. The analysis is limited by its broad scope and lack of systematic methodology, meta-analysis, or quantitative risk assessment. The exclusion of cannabinoid effects and low-cannabinoid variety focus narrows applicability to specific hemp cultivars. Evidence quality is further limited by the absence of specific heavy metal concentration data, anti-nutritional compound identification, or human clinical trial data demonstrating safety thresholds. The authors note that breeding programs to reduce anti-nutritional compounds represent a promising future direction, suggesting current food-grade varieties may still carry these concerns. As a 2026 publication, this review represents recent literature synthesis but would benefit from systematic methodology and quantitative risk characterization to provide clinically actionable safety guidance.

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