The examine printed within the Journal of Girls & Well being assessed PEA’s impression on acute menstrual ache in comparison with a placebo over the course of 16 weeks.
Dysmenorrhea is the main gynecological situation in ladies and is a “enormous subject relating to stopping ladies from reaching their full potential,” Mariko Hill, international innovation supervisor at Gencor, informed NutraIngredients.
The purpose of this new examine and people to come back, she defined, is to “overcome these obstacles of feminine physiology”.
Pure various for menstrual ache reduction
Menstrual ache, or main dysmenorrhea, impacts as much as 95% of girls of reproductive age.
The ache, linked to uterine cramping, begins with menstruation and may final from 8 to 72 hours. It may trigger vital disruption to day by day actions, work and college, and regardless of its widespread impression, dysmenorrhea is usually ignored and untreated as a result of its notion as a traditional a part of menstruation.
It’s primarily brought on by extra uterine prostaglandins, notably PGF2α and PGE2, which elevate throughout menstruation, resulting in elevated uterine tone, irregular contractions and ischemia, all contributing to ache.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs) like aspirin and ibuprofen are generally used therapies, nonetheless, long-term use may cause gastrointestinal and systemic unwanted effects. And whereas there are hormonal therapeutic alternate options, they don’t seem to be at all times efficient and may have opposed results.
PEA, an endogenous fatty acid with anti-inflammatory properties, has proven promise as a substitute therapy for menstrual ache via a number of mechanisms.
As Hill defined, it really works by “binding on PPAR-a expressed on neurons and macrophages, inhibiting launch of mast cells and not directly influencing CB1 receptors by improve ranges of anandamide within the physique.”
Anandamide—often known as the ‘bliss molecule’ is a neurotransmitter and endocannabinoid that performs a key position in temper regulation, ache reduction and general well-being.
Macrophages and mast cells promote irritation, so binding to or inhibiting them reduces irritation, Hill defined.
To counter the onset of menstrual ache brought on by extreme manufacturing of prostaglandins, “PEA has proven analgesic responses earlier than the ache sign arrives within the spinal twine, which is probably one of many important mechanisms for decreasing menstrual ache,” Hill mentioned.
Earlier analysis has demonstrated its effectiveness in managing ache from situations like endometriosis and neuropathy, nonetheless, its effectiveness in a single dose particularly for menstrual ache was till now, unexplored.
Single-dose PEA complement eases menstrual ache
The researchers recruited 80 menstruating females in Australia via social media, who had common menstrual cycles and a historical past of menstrual cramps requiring OTC ache reduction in at the least 4 of the previous six cycles.
Over 16 weeks, they carried out the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover medical trial, supplying all individuals with each lively capsules containing 350 mg of Levagen+ (≥300 mg PEA) and placebo capsules containing 350 mg of MCC.
Individuals recorded as much as 4 menstrual ache occasions over 16 weeks, taking one capsule when the ache reached at the least 5 out of 10 on a Numerical Ache Ranking Scale (NRS) and a second if the ache endured after two hours.
They logged ache scores each half-hour for 4 hours in an e-diary system, and after every ache occasion, individuals accomplished the Therapy Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medicine (TSQM).
Outcomes confirmed that ache scores dropped considerably in comparison with the placebo at 1, 1.5, 2 and a couple of.5 hours post-dose, with a 25% larger discount by 2.5 hours.
Each teams reported comparable ache ranges by the 4-hour mark, which based on the researchers was possible as a result of pure ache decision.
Considerably, not like earlier research that required extended dosing, this trial confirmed the efficacy of a single-dose strategy, making it a sensible various to NSAIDs, defined Hill.
“This examine is quite groundbreaking when it comes to having a protected, efficient and pure various to OTC drugs for ache that may trigger long-term opposed results on the microbiome, muscle adaptation and well being,” she mentioned.
The researchers indicated that the subsequent stage shall be to research prophylactic dosing methods by administering PEA on the onset of signs quite than ready for a predefined ache threshold, which can improve its effectiveness.
Moreover, evaluating completely different dosages and formulations might help establish the optimum routine for fast and sustained ache reduction, and since PEA stays within the system for a number of hours, a single 700 mg dose of Levagen+ could supply higher analgesic results for acute ache episodes like menstrual ache.
Journal: Journal of Girls & Well being. doi: 10.1080/03630242.2025.2458243. “Palmitoylethanolamide (Levagen+) for acute menstrual ache: a randomized, crossover, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial”. Authors: Rao, A. et al.
