Palmitoylethanolamide in the Treatment of Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trials
Meta-analysisHumans
- Design
- Meta-analysis
- Subjects
- 11 double-blind randomised trials, 774 participants (383 on palmitoylethanolamide, 391 on a comparator)
- Dose used in the study
- The included trials used 300 mg to 1,200 mg a day
- Duration
- From 10 days to 12 months. Most trials ran 8 to 12 weeks.
- What was measured
- Pain intensity scores. Quality of life, function and adverse events as secondary outcomes.
What the authors reported
Pain scores improved with a pooled standardised mean difference of 1.68 in favour of palmitoylethanolamide (95% CI 1.05 to 2.31), though heterogeneity was high (I² = 93%). No major side effects were attributed to palmitoylethanolamide in any included trial, the authors state.
Limits of this study
The included trials differed widely in the condition studied, the dose and the duration, and the I² value reflects that. All but one trial had fewer than 100 participants. The authors noted that a statistical difference may not equal a clinically meaningful one. Two included trials were company funded and two received product from a manufacturer.
Source
Entry checked against the full text at the publisher (MDPI) on 2026-09-21. The dose shown is the dose the researchers used. It is not a recommendation. How to read this page.