TY - JOUR
T1 - Palmitoylethanolamide Reduces Proinflammatory Markers in Unvaccinated Adults Recently Diagnosed with COVID-19
T2 - A Randomized Controlled Trial
AU - Fessler, Samantha N.
AU - Liu, Li
AU - Chang, Yung
AU - Yip, Theresa
AU - Johnston, Carol S.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 American Society for Nutrition.
PY - 2022/10
Y1 - 2022/10
N2 - Background: Inflammation is at the core of many chronic conditions and exacerbates infectious conditions, including the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effects of a novel food supplement, palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), specifically Levagen+, as compared with a placebo on proinflammatory biomarkers in adults recently diagnosed with COVID-19 who were unvaccinated and nonhospitalized. Methods: This study was a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial conducted October 2020–March 2021 (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04912921). Participants aged 19–53 y were unvaccinated and recently infected with COVID-19 as indicated by a positive test result per RT-PCR or antigen test, and they reported to the test site following diagnosis as allowed by the CDC's return-to-work policy. Participants were stratified by age, sex, and BMI and randomly assigned by coin toss to receive 600 mg Levagen+ twice daily (LEV) or placebo tablets twice daily (CON) for 4 wk. At baseline and week 4, participants completed health histories, 24-h dietary recalls, anthropometrics, and nonfasting blood sampling. The primary outcomes were the 4-wk change between groups for IL-6, C-reactive protein, ferritin, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin), and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio. Multiple linear regression models were utilized to assess treatment effects on outcomes, adjusting for covariates. Results: A total of 60 participants completed the study (LEV: n = 30; CON: n = 30). After 4 wk of supplementation, sP-selectin (β = −11.5; 95% CI: −19.8, −3.15; P = 0.0078), IL-1β (β = −22.9; 95% CI: −42.4, −3.40; P = 0.0222), and IL-2 (β = −1.73; 95% CI: −3.45, −0.065; P = 0.0492) concentrations were significantly reduced in the LEV group compared with the CON group. Conclusions: Inflammatory mechanisms are crucial to optimal resolution of infectious conditions, yet unchecked secretion of inflammatory mediators can promote the dysregulated immune response implicated in COVID-19 complications. Overall, PEA supplementation produced anti-inflammatory effects in individuals recently diagnosed with COVID-19 who were nonhospitalized.
AB - Background: Inflammation is at the core of many chronic conditions and exacerbates infectious conditions, including the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effects of a novel food supplement, palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), specifically Levagen+, as compared with a placebo on proinflammatory biomarkers in adults recently diagnosed with COVID-19 who were unvaccinated and nonhospitalized. Methods: This study was a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial conducted October 2020–March 2021 (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04912921). Participants aged 19–53 y were unvaccinated and recently infected with COVID-19 as indicated by a positive test result per RT-PCR or antigen test, and they reported to the test site following diagnosis as allowed by the CDC's return-to-work policy. Participants were stratified by age, sex, and BMI and randomly assigned by coin toss to receive 600 mg Levagen+ twice daily (LEV) or placebo tablets twice daily (CON) for 4 wk. At baseline and week 4, participants completed health histories, 24-h dietary recalls, anthropometrics, and nonfasting blood sampling. The primary outcomes were the 4-wk change between groups for IL-6, C-reactive protein, ferritin, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin), and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio. Multiple linear regression models were utilized to assess treatment effects on outcomes, adjusting for covariates. Results: A total of 60 participants completed the study (LEV: n = 30; CON: n = 30). After 4 wk of supplementation, sP-selectin (β = −11.5; 95% CI: −19.8, −3.15; P = 0.0078), IL-1β (β = −22.9; 95% CI: −42.4, −3.40; P = 0.0222), and IL-2 (β = −1.73; 95% CI: −3.45, −0.065; P = 0.0492) concentrations were significantly reduced in the LEV group compared with the CON group. Conclusions: Inflammatory mechanisms are crucial to optimal resolution of infectious conditions, yet unchecked secretion of inflammatory mediators can promote the dysregulated immune response implicated in COVID-19 complications. Overall, PEA supplementation produced anti-inflammatory effects in individuals recently diagnosed with COVID-19 who were nonhospitalized.
KW - COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2
KW - adhesion molecules
KW - cytokines
KW - dietary supplements
KW - inflammation
KW - palmitoylethanolamide
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U2 - 10.1093/jn/nxac154
DO - 10.1093/jn/nxac154
M3 - Article
C2 - 36084236
AN - SCOPUS:85139573033
SN - 0022-3166
VL - 152
SP - 2218
EP - 2226
JO - Journal of Nutrition
JF - Journal of Nutrition
IS - 10
ER -