Hello again! Time for another newsletter. 😊

If the title left you puzzled, that's totally okay. I don't think this subject is talked about much in Finland.

PEA is an abbreviation for palmitoylethanolamide. It's a real mouthful, I know. PEA is a naturally occurring fatty acid amide produced by the body in response to stress or pain in healthy tissue. It could be called the body's own internal anti-inflammatory pain reliever. It is also antioxidant. In addition to animals, many plants also produce PEA. The production of PEA decreases with age.

When taken as a supplement, PEA is a substance recognized by the body that helps calm nerve pain, among other things. PEA affects the endocannabinoid system at slightly different sites than, for example, the well-known cannabis. It binds to the GPR55 and GPR119 receptors, not the classical CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors. This is why it is called an indirect cannabinoid, as it does not have psychoactive effects. Ultramicronized PEA is absorbed better due to its small molecular structure. One of the most respected preparations is OptiPEA® because of its purity, and that is why it is used in several products for humans.

Redonyl® Ultra, intended for animals, contains 7.53% or 14.5% PEA, so its effectiveness is not at the same level as a pure PEA product, but it is easily available.

Because PEA is lipophilic, it is best absorbed when given with food containing fat. Based on my own experience, it "melts" best in a small amount of ghee, i.e. clarified butter.

PEA does not block pain signals from traveling like anti-inflammatory drugs do, but it supports the normal function of glial cells and mast cells. Glial cells are the so-called "glue cells" between neurons that promote the conduction of nerve impulses, among other things. Mast cells release histamine, nerve growth factor (NGF), and other neurotransmitters into the surrounding tissue when tissue damage occurs, which in turn attracts white blood cells to the area. Mast cells also activate nociceptors, the pain receptors, so prolonged mast cell activity sensitizes the nociceptors, deepening the sensation of pain.

Since PEA is not an industrial drug, but a part of the body's own communication system, its effect does not appear instantly. Depending on the situation, it may take a few weeks before you notice a difference. PEA’s effect is cumulative, meaning the longer it is given, the better it works.

In my case, I got lucky with Ritchie. I started giving him PEA when I suspected that his constant inappropriate urination was due to pain. Within a few days, the cat was already calmer and urinating outside the litter box less. The longer I’ve given PEA, the better Ritchie feels. As a supportive treatment for pain, I also use homeopathy, and we even switched the cat litter boxes to new ones, just in case the worn-out condition of the old ones was part of the behavior.

PEA is not a new thing. It and its safety have been studied for decades, including human trials. The safe dose for humans has been shown to be up to 100mg/kg. The recommended dose for cats varies depending on the source. The range is 150-350mg per day, divided into two or more doses. PEA can cause loose stools – this happened to sensitive Ritchie with a higher dose – so the dosage depends entirely on the cat’s situation, what condition it is being used to support, and how much the cat’s stomach can tolerate. When choosing a suitable product for your cat, I recommend selecting a pure PEA product. If you choose a combination product, it's good to check that the added ingredient doesn’t cause new problems at the dosage given to your cat.

At Pet Summit's Pain Relief Summit, in Angela Ardolin's webinar, it was mentioned that PEA combined with CBD oil provides very good pain relief. Since I don’t have personal experience with this combination, I can’t comment further. If you think this might be necessary for your cat, I strongly recommend doing further research on the topic yourself before trying it, and ensuring the quality of the products used.

The new year is just around the corner, and we’ll soon officially welcome 2025. Have a safe New Year celebration!

Iida

1) Palmitoylethanolamide: A Natural Compound for Health Management / https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8157570/

2) Palmitoylethanolamide in the Treatment of Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trials / https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10053226/

3) Effect of dietary supplementation with ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide in maintaining remission in cats with nonflea hypersensitivity dermatitis: a double‐blind, multicentre, randomized, placebo‐controlled study / https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6852539/

4) Palmitoylethanolamide and Related ALIAmides for Small Animal Health: State of the Art / https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9496254/

5) Chronic Pain in Dogs and Cats: Is There Place for Dietary Intervention with Micro-Palmitoylethanolamide? / https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/4/952

6) Prophylactic Palmitoylethanolamide Prolongs Survival and Decreases Detrimental Inflammation in Aged Mice With Bacterial Meningitis / https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6250830/

7) Palmitoylethanolamide: A Natural Body-Own Anti-Inflammatory Agent, Effective and Safe against Influenza and Common Cold / https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2013/151028