A randomised controlled trial assessing the potential of palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) to act as an adjuvant to resistance training in healthy adults: a study protocol

Zoya Huschtscha, Jackson J Fyfe, Simon A Feros, Andrew C Betik, Christopher S Shaw, Luana C Main, Gavin Abbott, Sze-Yen Tan, Martin C Refalo, Michael Gerhardy, Emma Grunwald, Anthony May, Jessica Silver, Craig M Smith, Matthew White, D Lee Hamilton. Trials. 2023 Mar 31;24(1):245.

Randomised controlled trialHumans

Design

Randomised controlled trial

Subjects

Planned: healthy active adults aged 18 to 35 who are not resistance trained; number not stated in the abstract

Dose used in the study

Daily oral palmitoylethanolamide (Levagen+) or placebo; amount not stated in the abstract

Duration

11 weeks, including 8 weeks of progressive resistance training

What was measured

Planned outcomes: lean body mass (DXA), mid-thigh cross-sectional area, bench press and mid-thigh pull strength, jump and bench-throw power, inflammatory cytokines, anabolic hormones, sleep by ActiGraph, pain and wellbeing questionnaires.

What the authors reported

This is a protocol only; no results are reported. The trial is registered with ANZCTR (ACTRN12621001726842p) and is designed to test whether PEA interferes with or enhances training adaptations compared with placebo. It will run over 11 weeks, including 8 weeks of resistance training, in healthy adults aged 18 to 35.

Limits of this study

A study protocol with no data. The product is Levagen+, made by Gencor; the authors state they hold no shares or stakes in Gencor or any other competing interest.

Source

PubMed 37004121 · doi:10.1186/s13063-023-07199-y

Entry checked against the abstract on PubMed on 2026-09-22. The dose shown is the dose the researchers used. It is not a recommendation. How to read this page.