FOREFRONT
PALMITOYLETHANOLAMIDE (PEA) – A SERIOUS RIVAL TO CBD Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA). The natural dietary supplement that tackles a wide range of disorders, from chronic pain and inflammation to influenza and the common cold. What are the benefits of PEA? • Proven to be effective and safe in the treatment and prevention of flu and colds in six double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials in over 3,000 people. • Clinically proven to significantly reduce chronic pain without side effects. • No negative side effects have been reported. • No adverse interactions between PEA and regular medicines have been reported. • Dozens of clinical trials and widely studied since the early 1970’s with excess of 500 scientific articles attributing the therapeutic effects.
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is a naturally occurring compound found in plant and animal cells and is a bioactive functional lipid belonging to a class of molecules known as fatty acid amides. It is produced in most cells in our bodies by on-demand synthesis when needed, naturally increasing in situations where cells or tissue is damaged or is under threat of damage. 4
PEA’s wide spectrum of biological properties includes both anti-inflammatory and pain relief, acting as a protective and repairing molecule whilst supporting the self-healing ability of the body and benefits the peripheral and central nervous system. Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) belongs to the endocannabinoid system, known to have both neuroprotective and immunomodulatory properties. Current evidence is indicating favourably of the therapeutic potential of endocannabinoids, including Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), in immune disorders and disease states known to entail or provoke immune responses. PEA is increasingly being recognised as a safe and effective chronic pain relief. In one significant clinical placebo-controlled study on chronic pain involving patients with severe hernia pain, in a few weeks, PEA significantly decreased the pain from 7 to 2 on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at a daily dose of 600mg, with many subsequent studies reporting similar beneficial results. When measuring the effectiveness of analgesia using the Number Needed to Treat (NNT) scale, PEA was compared to Amitriptylene (an antidepressant widely prescribed for pain and migraines). Amitriptylene returned an NNT of 4.6, whereas PEA returned an NNT of 1.5 for chronic pain.
