Endocannabinoid system mediates the association between gut-microbial diversity and anhedonia/amotivation in a general population cohort
Observational studyHumans
- Design
- Observational study
- Subjects
- 786 volunteer twins from the TwinsUK register; mean age 65.2, 93% female
- Dose used in the study
- Not applicable; palmitoylethanolamide was measured in serum and stool, not given
- Duration
- Longitudinal cohort data; period not stated
- What was measured
- Gut microbial alpha diversity, serum and faecal palmitoylethanolamide, and anhedonia/amotivation scores, analysed with a multilevel mediation model.
What the authors reported
Alpha diversity was directly associated with anhedonia/amotivation (beta -0.37; 95% CI -0.71 to -0.03; P=0.03). Faecal, but not serum, PEA mediated this link: indirect effect beta -0.13 (95% CI -0.24 to -0.01; P=0.03), total effect beta -0.38, with the direct effect no longer significant (beta -0.25; P=0.16).
Limits of this study
An observational cohort; it shows association, not cause. It measured PEA levels and did not test PEA treatment. The sample was mostly older women. The authors declare no competing interests.
Source
PubMed 34002020 · doi:10.1038/s41380-021-01147-5
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.