Palmitoylethanolamide, an endogenous fatty acid amide, and its pleiotropic health benefits: A narrative review

The global nutritional transition has led to high frequency and severity of chronic degenerative diseases worldwide, primarily driven by chronic inflammatory stress. At the mealtimes, various pharmaceutical products aim to prevent such an inflammatory stress, they usually cause various systemic side effects. Therefore, supplementation of natural and safe ingredients is a great strategy to reduce the risk and severity of inflammatory stress-related diseases. As a result, palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), an endocannabinoid-like mediator, has been extensively studied for its myriad of actions, including anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, immunostimulatory, neuroprotective, and pain-reducing effects with high tolerability and safety of PEA in animals and humans. Because of the multiple molecular targets and mechanisms of action, PEA has shown therapeutic benefits in various diseases, including neurological, psychiatric, ophthalmic, metabolic, oncological, renal, hepatic, immunological, rheumatological, and gastrointestinal conditions. The current review highlights the roles and functions of PEA in various physiological and pathological conditions, further supporting the use of PEA as an important dietary agent.