Why are we considering palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) for COVID19?
We have been interested in this molecule for years and have used in our allergy patients (it has well-documented mast cell stabilizing properties), in our pain patients and as influenza treatment and prophylaxis. In this most recent COVID19 pandemic, I think PEA is worth considering, although we recognize the mechanisms of infectivity of influenza and COVID19 do not completely overlap. The best review I’ve read on PEA is a free, full text by Hesselink, et al 2013
Quoting the authors discussing influenza research:
“The results from the first trial showed that patients receiving PEA had a lower number of episodes of fever, headache, and sore throat, compared with placebo patients (18 versus 33). PEA had less effect on symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, discharge, and cough. The episodes of fever and pain were significantly reduced by 45.5% in the PEA group compared with the placebo group. The beneficial effect of PEA was apparent from the second week of the trial. The total number of sickness days was also significantly reduced in the PEA group. In the prophylactic trial, Masek 1972b, the incidence of disease in the PEA group was 40% lower at week 6, and 32% lower at week 8 compared to placebo.”
(Incidentally, I was pretty happy to learn that Metagenics Hemp Plus has 300mg of PEA per cap. Prior to this, we were generally ordering our PEA direct from Europe)