Ingredients  /  Fatty acid amides  /  Palmitoylethanolamide

Palmitoylethanolamide

PEA · N-(2-hydroxyethyl)hexadecanamide · palmidrol · CAS 544-31-0

Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is a naturally occurring fatty acid amide supplied as a white crystalline powder at NLT 98% assay, in normal, micronized and cold-water-dispersible grades. It is plant-derived and vegan suitable, and is supplied with a full technical file for registration in your market.

Structure · C18H37NO2

O N H OH AMIDE

C16 acyl chain · amide linkage · ethanolamine head group

CAS number
544-31-0
Formula
C18H37NO2
Mol. weight
299.50
Assay
NLT 98.0%
Grades
3 available

Grades available

Three grades, one specification

All grades meet the same assay and purity specification. What differs is particle size and dispersion behaviour, which you choose to suit your dosage form.

Standard

Normal

Crystalline powder for capsules, tablets and blends where particle size is not critical.

Fine

Micronized

Reduced particle size for better dispersion and content uniformity in low-dose blends.

Dispersible

Cold water dispersible

For sachets, stick packs and beverage formats where powder must disperse without heat.

Specification

Technical data

ParameterSpecification
AppearanceWhite to off-white crystalline powder
Assay (HPLC)NLT 98.0%
IdentificationConforms by IR and HPLC
Loss on dryingNMT 1.0%
Residue on ignitionNMT 0.5%
Heavy metalsNMT 10 ppm
MicrobiologyConforms to specification
SourcePlant-derived, non-animal origin
SuitabilityVegan and vegetarian friendly

Market scope

Where this can be supplied

Scope Listed for business-to-business enquiry worldwide. Inclusion in this catalogue is not a representation of approval in any market. Worldwide
Position Regulatory position is assessed for your destination market at enquiry stage, and the technical file is issued with the quotation. We do not publish approval status on this site. Per destination
Meet us Regulatory dossier and supporting documentation released under NDA once the enquiry is qualified. Not downloadable from this page. Under NDA
HS code Confirmed with our team for your destination. Classification can differ by importing country. On request

Nothing on this page states or implies that this ingredient is approved, registered or permitted in any market. Import legality, licences and permits are the buyer's responsibility in the country of destination, as is the compliance and labelling of the finished product.

Uses

What formulators use it for

The categories below describe the product areas our customers formulate into, and the published research that informs them. These are not claims for any finished product. No health claim for PEA is authorised in major regulated markets, and nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. What you may say on your own label is governed by the rules of your market, and remains your responsibility.

Joint and musculoskeletal comfort

The largest single use. Formulated into daily capsules, tablets and sachets positioned for joint comfort and everyday mobility, often alongside collagen, curcumin or boswellia.

Nutrition Reviews · 2025 — Meta-analysis of 18 randomised clinical trials in 1,196 patients. Authors reported reduced pain scores and improved quality-of-life measures, with effects observed within four to six weeks. PubMed 39798151

Pharmaceutics · 2022 — PRISMA systematic review and meta-analysis across nociceptive, musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain, 933 patients. Results favoured PEA over control, with improvements in function and reduced use of rescue medication. Authors downgraded the finding: heterogeneity was very high and the funnel plot suggested publication bias. PubMed 36015298

Nerve comfort and sensory wellbeing

Used in formulations positioned around nerve comfort, tingling and sensory wellbeing, typically with B-vitamins, alpha-lipoic acid or methylcobalamin.

Nutrients · 2023 — Systematic review restricted to double-blind randomised controlled trials comparing PEA with placebo or active comparators in chronic pain. The most conservative of the published reviews. PubMed 36986081

Pharmaceutics · 2022 — The neuropathic arm of the review above reported improvement in neuropathic symptoms and quality of life alongside the musculoskeletal findings. PubMed 36015298

Women’s health formulations

A growing category. Formulated into products positioned for menstrual comfort and pelvic wellbeing, frequently co-micronized with polydatin.

International Journal of Women’s Health · 2019 — Open-label pilot in 30 women with laparoscopically diagnosed endometriosis, treated with ultramicronized PEA followed by co-micronized PEA/polydatin over 90 days. Authors reported improvement in chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhoea and quality-of-life scores, with no serious side effects observed. Small sample, open-label design. PubMed 31496832

Minerva Ginecologica · 2013 — Micronized PEA with trans-polydatin in endometriosis-related pelvic pain. Statistically significant results for pelvic pain, dysmenorrhoea and dyspareunia; dysuria and dyschezia were not significant. Reduced NSAID use was also observed. PubMed 24051945

Long-duration daily-use products

Where the format is a 60- or 90-day course rather than an acute-use product. This is the case for choosing micronized material over standard grade.

Nutrients · 2024 — Systematic review of micron-size oral PEA administered for at least 60 days. Pooled analysis showed a further reduction in pain intensity at 60 days compared with 30 days, of approximately 1.36 points on the scale used. doi 10.3390/nu16111653

Dosage formats we supply into

  • Capsules and tablets
  • Sachets and stick packs
  • Powder blends and premixes
  • Softgel and oil-based systems
  • Veterinary and pet nutrition
  • Contract manufacturing supply

PEA is an endogenous compound, first described in 1957, and has been identified in food sources including soy lecithin, egg yolk and peanut meal. The full reference list and technical dossier are available to customers on request.

Supply and documentation

What ships with an order

30 kg NET

One drum is the minimum order. Every consignment ships with the full document set:

· Specification sheet · Certificate of analysis · MSDS · Allergen statement · Non-GMO declaration · Manufacturing flow chart · Stability data

Common questions

Buyer FAQ

What is the minimum order quantity?

30 kg, which is one drum. Evaluation samples of 100 g are available and are chargeable.

Is PEA suitable for vegan formulations?

Yes. The material is plant-derived and of non-animal origin, making it suitable for vegan and vegetarian formulations.

Which grade should I choose?

Normal grade suits capsules and tablets. Micronized suits low-dose blends needing content uniformity. Cold water dispersible suits sachets and beverage formats.

What regulatory support do you provide?

The technical file is issued with the quotation, and the regulatory position for your destination market is assessed at enquiry stage. Dossier documentation is released under NDA.

What are the commercial terms?

Ex Works, payment in advance, with immediate delivery from stock. Packing is 30 kg drums.