Oral Ultramicronized Palmitoylethanolamide: Plasma and Tissue Levels and Spinal Anti-hyperalgesic Effect
Laboratory studyOther animals
- Design
- Laboratory study
- Subjects
- About 110 male laboratory rats, healthy or with paw inflammation caused by carrageenan
- Dose used in the study
- A single dose by mouth of 10 or 30 mg/kg of labelled palmitoylethanolamide, as plain powder (particles of 100 to 2,000 micrometres) or ultramicronised (0.8 to 6 micrometres)
- Duration
- Up to 6 hours
- What was measured
- Labelled palmitoylethanolamide in plasma, spinal cord and other tissues. Paw swelling, heat sensitivity and markers of inflammation.
What the authors reported
The authors reported that the ultramicronised form gave a peak plasma level 5 times that of plain powder, reached at 5 minutes. In inflamed rats, plasma levels were higher than in healthy rats, and spinal cord levels were 110 times higher at 15 minutes. The ultramicronised form reduced paw swelling from 2 hours and heat sensitivity from 1 hour.
Limits of this study
A rat study of a single dose over 6 hours. This is the main evidence that particle size changes absorption, and it has not been repeated as a head-to-head study in people. The authors caution that tissue levels may not map simply onto effects. Several authors are affiliated with Epitech Group, which makes ultramicronised palmitoylethanolamide.
Source
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.