--- title: "Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) — Evidence, Benefits & Where to… | Magellan" description: "Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) — Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is an endogenous fatty acid amide of the N-acylethanolamine family that is produced on demand…" url: "https://magellanlongevity.com/p/206.md" canonical: "https://magellanlongevity.com/p/206.html" html: "https://magellanlongevity.com/p/206.html" type: "product" section: "Nutraceuticals & Cellular Energizers" evidence_grade: "Moderate evidence" evidence_tier: "moderate" citations: 17 product_id: 206 price_usd: 76.99 updated: 2026-09-02 author: "Gabriel Radu, DO" author_credentials: "Physiatrist (PM&R). NY medical license 275110. NPI 1376861765." publisher: "Magellan Longevity" content_format: "markdown" license: "Educational content — not medical advice" --- # Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) [Home](https://magellanlongevity.com/) › [Nutraceuticals & Cellular Energizers](https://magellanlongevity.com/c/1.md) › Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) **HTML version:** https://magellanlongevity.com/p/206.html · **In the Magellan app:** https://magellanlongevity.com/#/product/206 ## Key facts | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Product | Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) | | Category | [Nutraceuticals & Cellular Energizers](https://magellanlongevity.com/c/1.md) | | Evidence grade | Moderate evidence (B) | | Peer-reviewed citations | 17 | | Typical listed price | $76.99 (check the live price) | | Where to buy | [Search Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Palmitoylethanolamide%20%28PEA%29&tag=magellanlong-20) | | Catalog ID | 206 | ## What it is Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is an endogenous fatty acid amide of the N-acylethanolamine family that is produced on demand from cell-membrane phospholipids and is also present in foods such as egg yolk, soybeans and peanuts. It acts chiefly as an agonist of the nuclear receptor PPAR-alpha and down-modulates the activation of mast cells and glial cells, producing anti-inflammatory, analgesic and neuroprotective effects. Because it engages endocannabinoid-related pathways without binding the classical cannabinoid receptors, it is often described as a cannabinoid-like or 'ALIAmide' compound. Commercial supplements are usually synthetic and are frequently sold in micronized or ultra-micronized forms intended to improve absorption. ## Its role in longevity Across randomized trials and several meta-analyses, oral PEA has been associated with reductions in chronic pain of mixed origin, including neuropathic, nociceptive/musculoskeletal (e.g., knee osteoarthritis and temporomandibular joint pain) and pelvic pain from endometriosis, and it is generally well tolerated, with benefit often taking one to two months to appear. Honest appraisal matters: effect sizes vary widely, several analyses flag very high heterogeneity, low study quality and possible publication bias, and a geriatric N-of-1 trial found only a small effect, so PEA is best viewed as a promising adjunct rather than a proven stand-alone therapy. Additional relevance to aging comes from mechanistic and animal studies showing reduced neuroinflammation and, in aged mice, neuroprotective and survival benefits, though these remain preclinical. This evidence describes the palmitoylethanolamide compound and its mechanisms, not this specific commercial product. ## Evidence grade: Moderate evidence - **What the grade means:** Curated grade based on the human and mechanistic evidence for this compound. - **What this grade does not say:** Meta-analyses of randomized trials consistently find PEA reduces chronic pain with few side effects, but the underlying trials are small, heterogeneous and often industry-linked, so the large pooled effect sizes may shrink in bigger independent studies. Evidence supports adjunctive pain relief, not anti-aging effects. ## Where it comes from without a bottle Food, exercise and behaviour routes to the same pathway, each with its citation. | Natural source | How it works | Citation | | --- | --- | --- | | Peanuts, soybeans & other plant foods | PEA is a natural N-acylethanolamine your body makes and that also occurs in foods; plant-based foods such as peanuts and soybeans carry more of these lipids than animal foods. | Food Chem 2019 [PMID 31351254](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31351254/) | | Milk, egg yolk & dairy fats | PEA occurs naturally in milk alongside related satiety lipids, so dairy and egg yolk supply small amounts of the very compound your body produces on its own. | Nutrients 2018 [PMID 30428553](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30428553/) | | Your own gut makes it from dietary fat | PEA is synthesized in your intestine from dietary fat; eating whole-food fats supports your body's natural production of these anti-inflammatory fatty-acid amides. | FASEB J 2010 [PMID 20959516](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20959516/) | ### What those papers actually say 1. **Peanuts, soybeans & other plant foods** Food Chem 2019 · [PMID 31351254](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31351254/) · [DOI 10.1016/j.foodchem.2019.125218](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2019.125218) > NAPEs and NAEs were more abundant in plant-based foods than in animal food products 2. **Milk, egg yolk & dairy fats** Nutrients 2018 · [PMID 30428553](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30428553/) · [DOI 10.3390/nu10111747](https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10111747) > OEA, SEA, and PEA are present in human milk 3. **Your own gut makes it from dietary fat** FASEB J 2010 · [PMID 20959516](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20959516/) · [DOI 10.1096/fj.10-166595](https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.10-166595) > intestinal levels of anorectic N-acylethanolamines (NAEs), including oleoylethanolamide (OEA), palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) ## In the news - **Palmitoylethanolamide - Uses, Side Effects, and More** — WebMD 2025 [Read it](https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/palmitoylethanolamide) > Most research shows that PEA may help reduce certain forms of pain by a small amount, but it may take one to two months to see any benefit. It is not clear if PEA is more or less helpful than over-the-counter or prescription pain medicines. ## The research Peer-reviewed studies on the active compound. Quotes are verbatim from the cited abstract. Research describes the active mechanism and is not a claim about this specific product. ### Cited studies 1. **Efficacy of Palmitoylethanolamide for Pain: A Meta-Analysis** Pain Physician 2017 · [PMID 28727699](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28727699/) > PEA was associated with significantly greater pain reduction compared to inactive control conditions (P < 0.001)… PEA may be a useful treatment for pain and is generally well tolerated. 2. **Palmitoylethanolamide in the Treatment of Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trials.** Nutrients 2023 · [PMID 36986081](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36986081/) · [DOI 10.3390/nu15061350](https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15061350) > PEA was found to reduce pain scores relative to comparators in a pooled estimate, with a standard mean difference of 1.68 (95% CI 1.05 to 2.31, p = 0.00001). 3. **Extended Treatment with Micron-Size Oral Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) in Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.** Nutrients 2024 · [PMID 38892586](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38892586/) · [DOI 10.3390/nu16111653](https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16111653) > These two obtained scores corresponded to a 35.1% pain intensity reduction within the first month, followed by a further 35.4% during the second month. 4. **Meta-Analysis of Palmitoylethanolamide in Pain Management: Addressing Literature Gaps and Enhancing Understanding.** Nutr Rev 2025 · [PMID 39798151](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39798151/) · [DOI 10.1093/nutrit/nuae203](https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuae203) > This meta-analysis confirmed that PEA effectively reduces pain and enhances quality of life, with significant benefits observed within 4-6 weeks of treatment. 5. **Effects of Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) on Nociceptive, Musculoskeletal and Neuropathic Pain: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Evidence.** Pharmaceutics 2022 · [PMID 36015298](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36015298/) · [DOI 10.3390/pharmaceutics14081672](https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14081672) > However, the results are downgraded due to the high heterogeneity of the studies (I2 = 99%), and the funnel plot suggests publication bias. 6. **Micronized palmitoylethanolamide/trans-polydatin treatment of endometriosis-related pain: a meta-analysis.** Ann Ist Super Sanita 2017 · [PMID 28617258](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28617258/) · [DOI 10.4415/ANN_17_02_08](https://doi.org/10.4415/ANN_17_02_08) > the administration of micronized palmitoylethanolamide/trans-polydatin (400 mg/40 mg) twice a day for three months provided a clinically relevant improvement of chronic pelvic pain and dysmenorrhea while improving deep dyspareunia to a limited degree. 7. **A double-blind randomized placebo controlled study assessing safety, tolerability and efficacy of palmitoylethanolamide for symptoms of knee osteoarthritis.** Inflammopharmacology 2019 · [PMID 30927159](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30927159/) · [DOI 10.1007/s10787-019-00582-9](https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-019-00582-9) > The study demonstrated that palmitoylethanolamide may be a novel treatment for attenuating pain and reducing other associated symptoms of knee osteoarthritis. 8. **Oral Palmitoylethanolamide Treatment Is Associated with Reduced Cutaneous Adverse Effects of Interferon-beta1a and Circulating Proinflammatory Cytokines in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis.** Neurotherapeutics 2016 · [PMID 26857391](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26857391/) · [DOI 10.1007/s13311-016-0420-z](https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-016-0420-z) > Patients with MS receiving um-PEA perceived an improvement in pain sensation without a reduction of the erythema at the injection site. A significant improvement in QoL was observed. 9. **Palmitoylethanolamide versus a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug in the treatment of temporomandibular joint inflammatory pain.** J Orofac Pain 2012 · [PMID 22558609](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22558609/) > These data suggest that PEA is effective in treating TMJ inflammatory pain. 10. **Effectiveness of the association micronized N-Palmitoylethanolamine (PEA)-transpolydatin in the treatment of chronic pelvic pain related to endometriosis after laparoscopic assessment: a pilot study.** Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2011 · [PMID 21601979](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21601979/) · [DOI 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2011.04.011](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2011.04.011) > A marked decrease in dysmenorrhoea, dyspareunia and pelvic pain was observed in all groups, and the association between N-Palmitoylethanolamine and transpolydatin resulted to be more effective than placebo (P<.001). 11. **N-of-1 Randomized Trials of Ultra-Micronized Palmitoylethanolamide in Older Patients with Chronic Pain.** Drugs Aging 2017 · [PMID 29210011](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29210011/) · [DOI 10.1007/s40266-017-0506-2](https://doi.org/10.1007/s40266-017-0506-2) > A small statistically significant effect in favor of um-PEA was seen at the mixed method analyses in two patients (effect size equal to 8% of the baseline pain). 12. **Micronized palmitoylethanolamide reduces the symptoms of neuropathic pain in diabetic patients.** Pain Res Treat 2014 · [PMID 24804094](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24804094/) · [DOI 10.1155/2014/849623](https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/849623) > Statistical analysis (ANOVA) indicated a highly significant reduction in pain severity (P < 0.0001) and related symptoms (P < 0.0001) evaluated by Michigan Neuropathy Screening instrument, Total Symptom Score, and Neuropathic Pain Symptoms Inventory. 13. **Palmitoylethanolamide in Fibromyalgia: Results from Prospective and Retrospective Observational Studies.** Pain Ther 2015 · [PMID 26334329](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26334329/) · [DOI 10.1007/s40122-015-0038-6](https://doi.org/10.1007/s40122-015-0038-6) > PEA introduction after 3 months of therapeutic regimen with DLX + PGB provided a significant improvement in pain symptoms, with a further reduction in the number of TPs and significant reduction in pain, compared to combined DLX + PGB only (p < 0.0001 for TPs and Visual Analog Scale comparisons). 14. **Palmitoylethanolamide, a naturally occurring disease-modifying agent in neuropathic pain.** Inflammopharmacology 2013 · [PMID 24178954](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24178954/) · [DOI 10.1007/s10787-013-0191-7](https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-013-0191-7) > palmitoylethanolamide, a member of the N-acylethanolamine family which is produced from the lipid bilayer on-demand, is capable of exerting anti-allodynic and anti-hyperalgesic effects by down-modulating both microglial and mast cell activity 15. **Palmitoylethanolamide dampens neuroinflammation and anxiety-like behavior in obese mice.** Brain Behav Immun 2022 · [PMID 35176443](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35176443/) · [DOI 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.02.008](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2022.02.008) > PEA directly counteracted inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction in a PPAR-alpha-dependent manner since the pharmacological blockade of the receptor reverted its effects. 16. **N-palmitoylethanolamide Prevents Parkinsonian Phenotypes in Aged Mice.** Mol Neurobiol 2018 · [PMID 29552727](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29552727/) · [DOI 10.1007/s12035-018-0959-2](https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-018-0959-2) > These findings propose this strategy as a valid approach to prevent neurodegenerative diseases associated with old age. 17. **Prophylactic Palmitoylethanolamide Prolongs Survival and Decreases Detrimental Inflammation in Aged Mice With Bacterial Meningitis.** Front Immunol 2018 · [PMID 30505308](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30505308/) · [DOI 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02671](https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2018.02671) > Our findings suggest that prophylactic PEA can counteract infection associated detrimental responses in old animals. Accordingly, PEA treatment slowed the onset of infection symptoms and prolonged the survival of old infected mice. ## Where to buy [Search Amazon for Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Palmitoylethanolamide%20%28PEA%29&tag=magellanlong-20) — affiliate search link. ## Structured data ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"ItemPage","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/p/206.html#page","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/p/206.html","name":"Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)","description":"Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is an endogenous fatty acid amide of the N-acylethanolamine family that is produced on demand from cell-membrane…","inLanguage":"en","isPartOf":{"@type":"WebSite","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Gabriel Radu, DO","jobTitle":"Physiatrist (PM&R)","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NPI","value":"1376861765"},{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NY medical license","value":"275110"}]},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"encoding":{"@type":"MediaObject","encodingFormat":"text/markdown","contentUrl":"https://magellanlongevity.com/p/206.md"},"dateModified":"2026-09-02"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Nutraceuticals & Cellular Energizers","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/c/1.html"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/p/206.html"}]},{"@type":"Product","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/p/206.html#product","name":"Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)","category":"Nutraceuticals & Cellular Energizers","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/p/206.html","description":"Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is an endogenous fatty acid amide of the N-acylethanolamine family that is produced on demand from cell-membrane phospholipids and is also present in foods such as egg yolk, soybeans and peanuts. 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Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your physician before starting any supplement or device, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication. Editorial firewall: evidence grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of any affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, Magellan Longevity earns from qualifying purchases. Reviewed for accuracy by a board-certified physician (DO).