A new role for anandamide: defective link between the systemic and skin endocannabinoid systems in hypertrophic human wound healing
Observational studyHumans
- Design
- Observational study
- Subjects
- 50 patients undergoing body-contouring surgery; 10 (20%) developed hypertrophic scars
- Dose used in the study
- No palmitoylethanolamide was given; plasma and skin levels were measured
- Duration
- Follow-up to 3 months after surgery
- What was measured
- Anandamide, 2-AG, palmitoylethanolamide and oleoylethanolamide in plasma and scar tissue by LC-MS/MS, comparing normal and hypertrophic scars over time
What the authors reported
The study found:
- Plasma and skin lipid levels did not differ between normal and hypertrophic scar groups.
- Plasma and skin anandamide correlated in the normal group (r=0.38, p=0.015) but not the hypertrophic group.
- Anandamide was lower in hypertrophic scar tissue (0.77 vs 1.15 ng/g, p<0.001).
- Plasma anandamide, PEA and OEA followed a U-shaped time course after surgery; 2-AG rose at 5 days then fell.
Limits of this study
A prospective observational study of 50 surgical patients, with only 10 hypertrophic scars. It describes natural levels, not effects of taking PEA. The authors declare no competing interests.
Source
PubMed 32636441 · doi:10.1038/s41598-020-68058-3
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.