Palmitoylethanolamide for sleep disturbance. A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled interventional study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Sleep disturbances are prevalent and linked to numerous health issues.
• Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), an endogenous fatty acid amide, is investigated for its sleep-promoting potential through the endocannabinoid system.
• Clinical trial registration: ACTRN12618001339246.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of a PEA formulation in improving sleep.
• To assess PEA's impact on sleep onset latency, waking cognition, and overall sleep quality and quantity.

Main Methods:

• A double-blind, randomized study involving 103 adults.
• Participants received a daily 350 mg PEA formulation (Levagen®) or placebo for 8 weeks.
• Sleep parameters were measured using wrist actigraphy, sleep diaries, and questionnaires.

Main Results:

• PEA supplementation significantly reduced sleep onset latency and improved cognition upon waking at 8 weeks.
• Both PEA and placebo groups showed similar improvements in subjective sleep quality and quantity scores.
• Objective measures of sleep quantity and quality via actigraphy and sleep diaries showed no significant differences between groups at baseline or week 8.

Conclusions:

• PEA demonstrates potential as a sleep aid, particularly for reducing sleep onset time and enhancing waking cognition.
• While subjective sleep quality and quantity improved similarly in both groups, objective measures did not show significant differences.
• Further investigation is warranted to fully elucidate PEA's role in sleep regulation.