Distribution of an analgesic palmitoylethanolamide and other N-acylethanolamines in human placental membranes
Laboratory studyHumans
- Design
- Laboratory study
- Subjects
- Seven placentas collected after caesarean delivery
- Dose used in the study
- No palmitoylethanolamide was given; tissue levels were measured
- Duration
- Not stated in the abstract
- What was measured
- PEA, OEA and anandamide by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in amniotic and amniochorionic membranes, placental disc, umbilical cord, serum and vernix, before and after antibiotic decontamination.
What the authors reported
This laboratory study found:
- N-acylethanolamines were present in all tissues, with palmitoylethanolamide the most abundant.
- Mean PEA was highest in amniotic membrane (350.33 ± 239.26 ng/g).
- OEA and anandamide were highest in placenta (219.08 and 30.06 ng/g respectively).
- Antibiotic decontamination raised N-acylethanolamine levels in amniotic membrane 3.1 to 3.6-fold (P < 0.001) but not significantly in amniochorionic membrane.
Limits of this study
A tissue measurement study of seven placentas. It measured PEA content and did not test any effect of PEA in people. The authors declare no competing interests.
Source
PubMed 36638082 · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0279863
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.