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Increased Anandamide and Decreased Pain and Depression after Exercise in Fibromyalgia

Niclas Stensson, Björn Gerdle, Malin Ernberg, Kaisa Mannerkorpi, Eva Kosek, Bijar Ghafouri. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2020;52(7):1617-1628.

Controlled trialHumans

Design
Controlled trial
Subjects
37 women with fibromyalgia and 33 healthy controls
Dose used in the study
No palmitoylethanolamide was given; plasma levels were measured before and after a resistance exercise programme
Duration
15 weeks
What was measured
Plasma anandamide, 2-AG, oleoylethanolamide, palmitoylethanolamide and stearoylethanolamide, alongside pain, depression, anxiety, fatigue and muscle strength.

What the authors reported

This controlled trial found:

  • After 15 weeks of resistance exercise, anandamide rose and SEA fell in the fibromyalgia group.
  • Pain intensity and depression scores fell and muscle strength rose, with strength linked to 2-AG.
  • No significant change in PEA was found.
  • Changes in pain or depression were not linked to lipid changes.

Limits of this study

A non-randomised exercise study in 37 women with fibromyalgia; PEA was measured, not given, and did not change. Funding and conflicts not stated in the abstract.

Source

PubMed 32168104 · doi:10.1249/MSS.0000000000002293

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.