ArticleSports medicine - open2024
The Effect of Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) on Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy, Strength, and Power in Response to Resistance Training in Healthy Active Adults: A Double-Blind Randomized Control Trial.
Article in Sports medicine - open, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Effects of dietary supplements on lower-limb power and jump performance in physically active individuals and athletes: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis.Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition · 2026Pooled it
- Palmitoylethanolamide in Human and Animal Obesity.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Article
- Effects of low-load blood flow restriction vs. high-load resistance training on upper-body strength in male collegiate gymnasts: A randomized controlled trial.Journal of exercise science and fitness · 2026Article
- Investigating Hybrid PLGA-Lipid Nanoparticles as an Innovative Delivery Tool for Palmitoylethanolamide to Muscle Cells.Pharmaceutics · 2025Article
- Palmitoylethanolamide in Postmenopausal Metabolic Syndrome: Current Evidence and Clinical Perspectives.Nutrients · 2024Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
18 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundPalmitoylethanolamide (PEA) has analgesic/anti-inflammatory properties that may be a suitable alternative to over-the-counter (OTC) non-steroidal analgesics/anti-inflammatories. While OTC pain medications can impair strength training adaptations, the mechanism of action of PEA is distinct from these and it may not negatively affect skeletal muscle adaptations to strength training.
methodsThe primary aim of this study was to investigate the effects of daily PEA supplementation (350 mg Levagen + equivalent to 300 mg PEA) combined with 8-weeks of resistance training on lean body mass with secondary aims addressing strength, power, sleep, and wellbeing compared to placebo (PLA) in young, healthy, active adults. In a randomized, controlled, double-blinded trial, 52 untrained, recreationally active participants aged 18-35 y were allocated to either the PEA or PLA groups. Participants consumed either 2 × 175 mg Levagen + PEA or identically matched maltodextrin capsules during an 8-week period of whole-body resistance training. This trial assessed the pre- to post- changes in total and regional lean body mass, muscular strength (1-RM bench, isometric mid-thigh pull), muscular power [countermovement jump (CMJ), bench throw], pain associated with exercise training, sleep, and wellbeing compared with the PEA or PLA condition.
results48 Participants were included in the final intention to treat (ITT) analysis and we also conducted per protocol (PP) analysis (n = 42). There were no significant between-group differences for total or regional lean muscle mass post-intervention. There was a significantly higher jump height (CMJ) at week 10 in the PEA group compared to the PLA (Adjusted mean difference [95% CI] p-value; ITT: - 2.94 cm [- 5.15, - 0.74] p = 0.010; PP: - 2.93 cm [- 5.31, - 0.55] p = 0.017). The PLA group had higher 1-RM bench press post-intervention compared with the PEA group (ITT: 2.24 kg [0.12, 4.37] p = 0.039; PP: 2.73 kg [0.40, 5.06] p = 0.023). No significant treatment effects were noted for any of the other outcomes.
conclusionPEA supplementation, when combined with 8 weeks of strength training, did not impair lean mass gains and it resulted in significantly higher dynamic lower-body power when compared with the PLA condition.
trial registrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR: ACTRN12621001726842p).
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