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.

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.