Micronized/ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide improves depression and fatigue in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors

Merolla A, De Lorenzo R, Paolazzi G, Critelli S, Palladini M, Damanti S, Vitali G, Canti V, Cilla M, Martinenghi S, Falbo E, Ferrante M, Castellani J, Pacioni G, Magnaghi C, Fumagalli A, Mazza MG, Benedetti F, Rovere-Querini P. Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2024;39(6):361-368.

Observational studyHumans

Design

Observational study

Subjects

98 COVID-19 survivors with neuropsychiatric symptoms at a Milan post-COVID clinic in 2021: 57 accepted treatment, 41 declined and served as the comparison

Dose used in the study

Micronised and ultramicronised palmitoylethanolamide 600 mg twice daily

Duration

3 months

What was measured

Validated scales for depression, fatigue, chronic pain and subjective wellbeing before and after

What the authors reported

The treated group improved more in depression and fatigue (both p < 0.05) but not in chronic pain or wellbeing. Treatment predicted improvement after adjusting for age, sex and baseline status. Those with worse fatigue and wellbeing at baseline gained most.

Limits of this study

Patients who accepted treatment were compared with those who declined, which is not randomisation, and the authors call the study retrospective. No placebo, no blinding. Two of four outcomes did not differ. Authors declare no conflicts; registered NCT04318366.

Source

PubMed 38381905 · doi:10.1097/YIC.0000000000000537

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.