Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA): Benefits, Dosage and Side Effects

Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is a fatty compound your body makes on its own and that is also found in many foods. As a supplement, PEA has been studied in more than a dozen human trials at 350 mg to 1,200 mg a day, mostly on pain, with newer trials on sleep and memory. It belongs to the same family as anandamide, the "bliss molecule," and OEA.

This guide explains how PEA works, what the studies found, how much has been used, its side effects, how it compares with OEA, and how it differs from two things it is often confused with: phenylethylamine and pea protein.

It is educational, not medical advice.

Key Takeaways

• PEA is made by the body and found in food. It was first identified in egg yolk and is present in many plant and animal foods (Nestmann, 2017, Petrosino and Di Marzo, 2017).
• It works through PPAR-alpha, a receptor that helps control inflammation, and it can make anandamide work more strongly in lab studies (Lo Verme et al., 2005, Ho et al., 2008).
• Pain is the most studied use. A 2025 analysis of 18 randomized trials with 1,196 people found lower pain scores with PEA than with the comparison groups (Viña and López-Moreno, 2025).
• Newer trials look at sleep and memory. In healthy adults, PEA shortened the time to fall asleep in one trial and improved a memory test in another (Rao et al., 2021, Kim et al., 2024).
• Studied amounts run from 350 mg to 1,200 mg a day, and PEA has been well tolerated in trials (Rao et al., 2021, Gabrielsson et al., 2016).

What Is Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)?

Palmitoylethanolamide is the amide of palmitic acid, a common fat, and ethanolamine (Lo Verme et al., 2005). The body makes it in its own cells and tissues, and it is naturally present in many plant and animal foods; it was first identified in egg yolk (Nestmann, 2017, Petrosino and Di Marzo, 2017).

PEA is one of the fatty acid ethanolamides, a small family that also includes anandamide and oleoylethanolamide (OEA). The three are made from the same kind of building blocks, which is why they are often discussed, and sold, together. For the other two, see our anandamide ingredient page and OEA (oleoylethanolamide): benefits, dosage and safety.

Oleamide is a related fatty compound the body makes; our oleamide guide covers how it has been studied for sleep.

How PEA Works

• PPAR-alpha. PEA switches on PPAR-alpha, a receptor inside cells that helps control inflammation. In mouse studies, PEA calmed inflammation in normal mice but had no effect in mice without PPAR-alpha, which points to this receptor as its main target. OEA acts on the same receptor (Lo Verme et al., 2005).
• The entourage effect. PEA and OEA are close relatives of anandamide. In lab studies, both made anandamide’s effects stronger, a so-called entourage effect (Ho et al., 2008). More in how to increase anandamide naturally.

PEA Benefits: What Human Studies Show

Pain

Most PEA research has been in people living with long-lasting pain. A 2025 meta-analysis pooled 18 randomized trials with 1,196 people. Pain scores were lower with PEA than in the comparison groups at 6 weeks, 8 weeks and 24 to 26 weeks, and quality of life scores were higher. The effect was seen across different types of pain (Viña and López-Moreno, 2025).

Sleep

In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 103 adults took 350 mg of PEA or a placebo daily for 8 weeks. By week 8, the PEA group fell asleep faster, felt fully awake sooner in the morning and scored better on a thinking test on waking. Overall sleep quality and quantity scores improved in both groups (Rao et al., 2021).

Memory

In a placebo-controlled crossover trial, 39 young, healthy adults took 700 mg of PEA a day for 6 weeks. Compared with placebo, PEA raised blood levels of BDNF, a protein that supports brain cells, and people made fewer errors on a memory test (Kim et al., 2024).

PEA Dosage: How Much Has Been Studied?

• 350 mg a day for 8 weeks in the sleep trial (Rao et al., 2021).
• 700 mg a day for 6 weeks in the memory trial (Kim et al., 2024).
• 1,200 mg a day, combined with melatonin, in an open-label pain study (Terribili et al., 2024).
• Give it weeks. Trials measured results after 4 to 8 weeks and up to 6 months of daily use (Viña and López-Moreno, 2025).
• Follow your label and do not go above the amount it lists.

Micronized and Ultramicronized PEA

PEA is a fat-like compound that does not dissolve in water. Newer forms grind it into much smaller particles, called micronized or ultramicronized PEA, and some products combine it with plant compounds such as luteolin or polydatin (Petrosino and Di Marzo, 2017). When you compare products, check the milligrams of PEA per serving first; the form is listed on the label. If you are comparing anandamide formulas that include PEA, our guide to the best anandamide supplement explains what to look for.

PEA Side Effects and Safety

PEA has been well tolerated in human studies. A review of the clinical trials found that, for treatment up to 49 days, the data argue against serious side effects at a rate of 1 in 200 or more (Gabrielsson et al., 2016). In laboratory safety testing, micronized PEA did not damage genes, and rats given high doses every day for 90 days showed no adverse effects at the highest dose tested (Nestmann, 2017).

Talk with your clinician first if you:

• are pregnant or breastfeeding;
• take prescription medication;
• are being treated for a medical condition, or are under 18.

PEA vs OEA: How They Differ

PEA and OEA (oleoylethanolamide) are close relatives. Both are fatty acid ethanolamides the body makes, and both act on PPAR-alpha (Lo Verme et al., 2005). They differ in the fat they are built from and in what they have been studied for.

• Building block. PEA is made from palmitic acid. OEA is made from oleic acid, the main fat in olive oil.
• PEA research. Human trials of PEA have looked mostly at pain, with newer trials on sleep and memory.
• OEA research. In rodent studies, OEA acted through PPAR-alpha to regulate feeding (Fu et al., 2003). In a 60-day placebo-controlled trial in 60 adults with obesity, 250 mg of OEA a day was studied for appetite, and hunger scores fell and fullness scores rose in the OEA group (Payahoo et al., 2018).

Because they share a receptor, and both made anandamide's effects stronger in lab studies (Ho et al., 2008), the two are often taken together. Our OEA Supplement gives 200 mg each of OEA and palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) per two-capsule serving. For what OEA trials logged on safety, see our guide to OEA side effects.

PEA vs Phenylethylamine vs Pea Protein

"PEA" and "pea supplement" can mean three different things:

Name	What it is	Main use
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)	A fatty compound in the same family as anandamide and OEA	The subject of this guide
Phenylethylamine (PEA)	A small amine found in chocolate and made in the brain	Focus and mood; see phenylethylamine for brain function and focus
Pea protein	Protein powder made from yellow peas	Protein intake

Our products list palmitoylethanolamide by its full name on the label.

Where Our Products Fit

• Our Anandamide Supplement gives 600 mg of anandamide, 150 mg of palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), 100 mg of OEA and 100 mg of L-theanine per two-capsule serving, with ginger extract and vegan capsules. The label suggests two capsules daily in the morning, with or without food. More in anandamide supplements for mood.
• Our OEA Supplement gives 200 mg each of OEA, palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), L-theanine, acetyl-L-carnitine and green tea extract per two-capsule serving, with ginger extract and vegan capsules. The label suggests two capsules daily, 15 to 30 minutes before your largest meal.

For more options, see the best supplements for stress and mood and our stress, mood and nervous system hub.

Sources

• Nestmann ER. Safety of micronized palmitoylethanolamide (microPEA): lack of toxicity and genotoxic potential. Food Science & Nutrition, 2017. PubMed
• Petrosino S et al. The pharmacology of palmitoylethanolamide and first data on the therapeutic efficacy of some of its new formulations. British Journal of Pharmacology, 2017. PubMed
• Lo Verme J et al. The nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha mediates the anti-inflammatory actions of palmitoylethanolamide. Molecular Pharmacology, 2005. PubMed
• Ho WS et al. 'Entourage' effects of N-palmitoylethanolamide and N-oleoylethanolamide on vasorelaxation to anandamide occur through TRPV1 receptors. British Journal of Pharmacology, 2008. PubMed
• Viña I et al. Meta-Analysis of Palmitoylethanolamide in Pain Management: Addressing Literature Gaps and Enhancing Understanding. Nutrition Reviews, 2025. PubMed
• Rao A et al. Palmitoylethanolamide for sleep disturbance. A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled interventional study. Sleep Science and Practice, 2021. PubMed
• Kim N et al. Formulated Palmitoylethanolamide Supplementation Improves Parameters of Cognitive Function and BDNF Levels in Young, Healthy Adults: A Randomised Cross-Over Trial. Nutrients, 2024. PubMed
• Gabrielsson L et al. Palmitoylethanolamide for the treatment of pain: pharmacokinetics, safety and efficacy. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 2016. PubMed
• Terribili R et al. A Fixed Combination of Palmitoylethanolamide and Melatonin (PEATONIDE) for the Management of Pain, Sleep, and Disability in Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Pilot Study. Nutrients, 2024. PubMed
• Fu J et al. Oleylethanolamide regulates feeding and body weight through activation of the nuclear receptor PPAR-alpha. Nature, 2003. PubMed
• Payahoo L et al. Oleoylethanolamide increases the expression of PPAR-alpha and reduces appetite and body weight in obese people: a clinical trial. Appetite, 2018. DOI
• Steels E et al. A double-blind randomized placebo controlled study assessing safety, tolerability and efficacy of palmitoylethanolamide for symptoms of knee osteoarthritis. Inflammopharmacology, 2019. DOI

Frequently Asked Questions

What is palmitoylethanolamide?

A fatty compound, the amide of palmitic acid, that the body makes in its own tissues and that is found in many foods. It belongs to the same family as anandamide and OEA.

What is PEA good for?

It has been studied most for pain, where a 2025 analysis of 18 trials found lower pain scores than in comparison groups. Newer trials in healthy adults looked at sleep and memory.

Is PEA the same as phenylethylamine?

No. Both are abbreviated PEA, but phenylethylamine is a small amine related to focus and mood, while palmitoylethanolamide is a fatty compound related to anandamide.

Is a PEA supplement the same as pea protein?

No. Pea protein is protein powder made from yellow peas. A PEA supplement contains palmitoylethanolamide.

How much PEA should I take?

Human studies have used 350 mg to 1,200 mg a day. Follow your product label.

How long does PEA take to work?

Trials measured results after 4 to 8 weeks of daily use, and some ran for about 6 months, so think in weeks.

Does PEA have side effects?

It has been well tolerated in trials. Check with your clinician first if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, take prescription medication or are being treated for a medical condition.

Can you take PEA with anandamide or OEA?

Yes. They are close relatives and are often combined; our Anandamide Supplement and OEA Supplement both contain PEA.

What does palmitoylethanolamide do for the body?

The body makes PEA in its own tissues, where it switches on PPAR-alpha, a receptor inside cells that helps control inflammation. In lab studies, it also made anandamide's effects stronger. As a supplement, human trials have looked at pain, sleep and memory: in one trial in 103 adults, 350 mg a day for 8 weeks shortened the time it took to fall asleep.

Is 600 mg of PEA a typical dose?

Yes. 600 mg a day sits inside the 350 to 1,200 mg range used in human studies. In an 8-week trial in 111 adults with knee osteoarthritis, 300 mg or 600 mg of PEA a day, split into two doses, lowered pain scores compared with placebo, and the 600 mg group also improved on a function score. Follow your product label.

Which is better, PEA or OEA?

They have been studied for different things, so it depends on your goal. PEA has been studied most for pain, with newer trials on sleep and memory. OEA has been studied for appetite and fullness. They share the PPAR-alpha receptor and are often taken together; our OEA Supplement gives 200 mg each of OEA and PEA per two-capsule serving.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This content is for education and is not medical advice. Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Talk with a healthcare provider before starting a new supplement if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medication.