PEA is a fatty acid amide molecule involved in a variety of cellular functions in chronic pain and inflammation. It has been shown to have neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive (anti- pain) and anti-convulsant properties.
BioClinical Nautral's Natural Source PEA is a Fraction of Non-GMO Safflower Oil
PEA (palmitoylethanolamide) is a fatty-acid-like compound which is a fraction of non-GMO safflower oil. Micronized for improved solubility and absorption. Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is produced in the body to combat pain and inflammation. Some scientists believe this fatty acid may boost natural cannabinoids and protect the nerves.
Scientists are also investigating the effects of PEA on activating the cannabinoid receptors. Limited research suggests PEA might support brain, heart health, and immune health.
Mechanism of Action
PEA activates the energy-boosting, fat-burning, and anti-inflammatory PPAR alpha. By activating this key protein, PEA stops the activity of pro-inflammatory genes and the production of many inflammatory substances.
PEA reduces the activity of the bliss gene FAAH that breaks down natural cannabinoid anandamide. This increases the levels of calming anandamide in your body, helping to combat pain and increase relaxation. It may also activate cannabinoid receptors (CB2 and CB1).
PEA contains palmitic acid in its structure. The starting point for making PEA in the body is precisely this saturated fatty acid.
However, some scientists say that simply increasing your intake of palmitic acid or other dietary fats will not affect PEA production in the body. This is because your body will use PEA only when it needs to compensate for inflammation or pain, and its levels will also normally vary throughout the day
Researchers hypothesize that the best way to get the benefits of PEA are standardized supplements, or alternatively, PEA-rich foods. Their hypothesis remains unproven, though.
Scientists think PEA might activate cannabinoid pathways in the body, which is hypothesized to soothe pain.
Purported Health Benefits of Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)
Possibly Effective for:
1) Pain Relief
A decent amount of evidence backs up PEA’s ability to reduce complex pain. It has been investigated in over 30 clinical trials and a total of ~6k people since the 1970s.
While most of the research speaks to PEA’s ability to reduce pain in general, studies often fail to make a distinction between neuropathic and non-neuropathic pain.
The benefits of PEA for neuropathic pain are less clear due to insuffucient reliable evidence to date.
Another limitation was that most of these studies lacked a placebo control. More high-quality research is needed to determine how effective PEA is at relieving different types of pain.
In an analysis of 12 human studies, PEA supplements reduced chronic and neuropathic pain intensity without any serious adverse effects. At least 2 weeks need to pass to achieve pain relief. PEA was typically given over 3 – 8 weeks at dosages between 300 and 1,200 mg/day. Taking it over a longer period of time strengthens its effects without causing tolerance.
In a pivotal trial of over 600 people, PEA (300 or 600 mg/day) strongly reduced sciatic pain, higher dose having a more beneficial effect. PEA reduced pain intensity by over 50% in just 3 weeks, which is rarely seen with most painkillers.
PEA reduced lower back pain in a trial of over 100 people (600 mg PEA/day). It was so effective that half of the included participants stopped taking any additional painkillers by the end of the trial.
PEA seemed to relieve pain caused by diverse health conditions. To outline some of these studies, PEA was investigated in: