Palmitoylethanolamide causes dose-dependent changes in brain function and the lipidome
Laboratory studyOther animals
- Design
- Laboratory study
- Subjects
- 68 female rats across imaging, behaviour and lipid experiments
- Dose used in the study
- A single injection into the abdomen of 3, 10 or 30 mg/kg, or vehicle
- Duration
- Single dose, with brain imaging while awake
- What was measured
- Brain activity and connectivity on functional MRI, behaviour tests, and levels of lipids in blood and brain
What the authors reported
The authors reported an inverse dose response in one imaging measure, with the lowest dose producing the largest effect, and a dose-dependent rise in functional connectivity. Brain levels of palmitoylethanolamide rose at 30 mg/kg. Anandamide and more than 20 other lipids fell across brain regions.
Limits of this study
A laboratory study in rats, given by injection, at a single time point. It shows that the compound reaches the brain and changes lipid levels in rats. It does not show an effect in patients. The fall in anandamide runs against the entourage proposal. The funding statement was not visible on the page checked.
Source
doi:10.3389/fnins.2024.1506352
Entry checked against the full text at the publisher (Frontiers) on 2026-09-21. The dose shown is the dose the researchers used. It is not a recommendation. How to read this page.