PEA: A promising therapeutic option in the management of chronic conditions eliciting both pain and inflammation (Advertorial)

01 Oct 2024

 

Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is an endogenous endocannabinoid-like lipid mediator which has been extensively researched for its potent anti-inflammatory, analgesic, neuroprotective and anti-pruritic effects.1,2 PEA is synthesised ‘on demand’ in the lipid bilayer of virtually all tissues and fluids throughout the body from palmitic acid, the most prevalent fatty acid in animals.3,4 It does this in response to cellular injury, pain or inflammation, thereby acting as the body’s internal protective mechanism to maintain the homeostatic balance, and effectively regulates non-resolving inflammation, whilst counteracting disease progression.  PEA is also commonly found in a number of food sources, including egg yolk, soy products, and dairy milk.5-7

Fig 1 Homeostasis.jpg

Fig 1. Hot air balloon metaphor for how PEA maintains homeostasis in the body

Similar to tissues in the body, hot air balloons require consistent monitoring and readjustments based on the changing external conditions to remain within safe limits. PEA ‘fine tunes’ the burner wheel, counterbalancing the excessive burst of heat (inflammation), and related tissue response.

Whilst inflammation is a natural body response and initially plays a protective role in the face of harmful stimuli, when it persists and becomes dysregulated, it can lead to an array of detrimental effects with PEA production inadequate to contend with the ensuing inflammatory cascade.1-2,8 In these cases, PEA supplementation to replenish and restore the body’s own endogenous supply of PEA has been of value, serving to reinstate its anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects.1,5

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Fig 2. PEA supplementation restores homeostatic balance during chronic pain and inflammation.

The effectiveness of naïve or ‘standard’ PEA is limited by its poor solubility in water, and therefore low bioavailability when given orally.5 This issue has since been overcome by subjecting PEA to a microgrinding or ‘micronisation’ process to yield particles with a diameter size of 0.6-10 μm, which characteristically have a superior dissolution rate and therefore, significantly enhanced bioavailability.3 

PEA’s multifaceted effects provide safe and therapeutic benefits that prove useful in the management of chronic inflammatory conditions across a plethora of body systems, including dermatological conditions where most of the veterinary research available has been centred so far.9 PEA has been shown to aid in the treatment of allergic and inflammatory dermatological conditions, effectively providing relief from pruritis and skin lesions in canine atopic dermatitis. In cats, PEA has also been found to reduce the signs of eosinophilic syndrome, and to delay symptom relapse following steroid withdrawal.2, 10

New to PAW by Blackmores, PurePEA+ Omega contains 50mg of high purity micronised PEA (for enhanced bioavailability), and omega-3 fatty acid-rich fish oil in the form of a convenient soft gel capsule to aid in the management of inflammation, pain and pruritis in dogs and cats, whilst concurrently supporting brain, joint and intestinal health. These clinically proven ingredients are particularly beneficial in the management of allergic and inflammatory dermatological conditions in dogs and cats.

For more information on how PAW PurePEA+ Omega can help transform the lives of your patients, please contact your PAW by Blackmores representative today.

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References:

  1. Clayton P et al. Palmitoylethanolamide: A Natural Compound for Health Management.Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22: 5305.https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22105305
  2. Rocca GD & Re G. Palmitoylethanolamide and Related ALIAmides for Small Animal Health: State of the Art. Biomolecules. 2022. 12: 1186. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom12091186
  3. FX medicine BioCeuticals - 2023 PEA Technical Education Brochure
  4. Rocca GD & Gamba D. Chronic Pain in Dogs and Cats: Is There Place for Dietary Intervention with Micro-Palmitoylethanolamide? 2021. 11:952. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11040952
  5. Gugliancolo E et al. Palmitoylethanolamide and Related ALIAmides:Prohomeostatic Lipid Compounds for Animal Health and Wellbeing. Vet. Sci. 2020. 7(2): 78. doi:10.3390/vetsci7020078 www.mdpi
  6. Designs for Health- White Paper: PEA. 2020.
  7. Noli C et al. Efficacy of ultra-micronized palmitoylethanolamide in canine atopic dermatitis: an open-label multi-centre study. Vet Dermatol 2015; 26: 432–e101; doi: 10.1111/vde.12250
  8. Noli C. et al. Effect of dietary supplementation with ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide in maintaining remission in cats with nonflea hypersensitivity dermatitis: a double-blind, multicentre, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Vet Dermatol. 2019. 30: 387–e117. doi: 10.1111/vde.12764
  9. Re G et al. Palmitoylethanolamide, endocannabinoids and related cannabimimetic compounds in protection against tissue inflammation and pain: Potential use in companion animals. The Veterinary Journal. 2007. 173:21–30. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2005.10.003
  10. Marchegiani A et al. Impact of Nutritional Supplementation on Canine Dermatological Disorders. Vet Sci. 2020. 7(2): 38. doi:10.3390/vetsci7020038

 

 

This article is an advertorial from PAW by Blackmores.
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