Names and spellings

One molecule, several names. All of these refer to the same compound.

• Palmitoylethanolamide. The name used most in current research.
• PEA. The common abbreviation.
• Palmidrol. The International Nonproprietary Name. Regulators use it. The TGA’s compositional guideline is filed under this name.
• N-palmitoylethanolamine. An older chemical name. It appears in many dermatology papers.
• N-(2-hydroxyethyl)hexadecanamide and N-hexadecanoylethanolamide. Systematic names.

-amide or -amine?

Both spellings appear in published papers. Palmitoylethanolamide describes the amide bond in the molecule. N-palmitoylethanolamine describes the same structure from the ethanolamine side. When you search the literature, search both.

Two other things called PEA

• The vegetable. A search for “PEA for cats” returns pea protein and pet food. Search the full name.
• Phenethylamine. A different compound that shares the abbreviation. It has no connection to palmitoylethanolamide.

Form names you will see

Papers often name the particle size or the branded ingredient: micronised (PEA-m), ultra-micronised (PEA-um), Levagen+ and OptiPEA. These are forms of the same molecule. See Forms and Doses.