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Kim N, Parolin B, Renshaw D, Deb SK, Zariwala MG. Formulated Palmitoylethanolamide Supplementation Improves Parameters of Cognitive Function and BDNF Levels in Young, Healthy Adults: A Randomised Cross-Over Trial. Nutrients 2024; 16:489. [PMID: 38398813 PMCID: PMC10891801 DOI: 10.3390/nu16040489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is an endocannabinoid-like lipid mediator which is naturally produced in the body and found in certain foods. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a bioavailable formulated form of PEA (Levagen+®) on serum BDNF levels and parameters of cognitive function in healthy adults. METHODS A randomised double-blinded placebo-controlled cross-over trial was implemented to measure the effects of a 6-week 700 mg/day course of formulated PEA supplementation versus a placebo. Participants (n = 39) completed pre- and post-assessments of a lab-based cognitive test. Serum samples were collected to measure BDNF concentrations using an immunoassay. RESULTS A significant increase in serum BDNF levels was found following PEA supplementation compared with the placebo (p = 0. 0057, d = 0.62). The cognition test battery demonstrated improved memory with PEA supplementation through better first success (p = 0.142, d = 0.54) and fewer errors (p = 0.0287; d = -0.47) on the Paired Associates Learning test. CONCLUSION This was the first study to report a direct beneficial effect of Levagen+® PEA supplementation on memory improvement as well as corresponding increases in circulating neurotrophic marker levels. This suggests that formulated PEA holds promise as an innovative and practical intervention for cognitive health enhancement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Kim
- Centre for Nutraceuticals, University of Westminster, London W1W6 UW, UK (S.K.D.)
| | - Brenda Parolin
- Centre for Nutraceuticals, University of Westminster, London W1W6 UW, UK (S.K.D.)
| | - Derek Renshaw
- Centre for Health and Life Sciences (CHLS), Coventry University, Coventry CV1 5FB, UK;
| | - Sanjoy K. Deb
- Centre for Nutraceuticals, University of Westminster, London W1W6 UW, UK (S.K.D.)
- Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK
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Bonzanino M, Riolo M, Battaglini I, Perna M, De Mattei M. PEALut in the Dietary Management of Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. J Clin Med 2024; 13:509. [PMID: 38256644 PMCID: PMC10816980 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13020509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Acute ischemic stroke (AIS), which represents 87% of all strokes, is caused by reduced blood supply to the brain associated with a prolonged inflammatory process that exacerbates brain damage. The composite containing co-ultramicronized Palmitoylethanolamide and luteolin (PEALut) is known to promote the resolution of neuroinflammation, being a promising nutritional approach to contrast inflammatory processes occurring in AIS. This study included 60 patients affected by acute ischemic stroke and undergoing thrombolysis. PEALut 770 mg was administered to 30 patients, twice daily for 90 days, in addition to the standard therapy. Neurological deficit, independence in activities of daily living, disability and cognitive impairment were investigated. In all patients, the severity of AIS defined by the NIHSS score evolved from moderate to minor (p < 0.0001). Patients' independence in daily living activities and disability evaluated using BI and mRS showed a significant improvement over time, with a statistically significant difference in favor of PEALut-treated patients (p < 0.002 for BI, p < 0.0001 for mRS), who achieved also a marked improvement of cognitive function evaluated using MMSE and MoCA tests. PEALut proved to be a safe and effective treatment in addition to thrombolysis in the management of patients with acute ischemic stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Bonzanino
- S. S. Stoke Unit, Dipartimento Area Medica, Ospedale Santa Croce di Moncalieri, ASLTo5, 10024 Moncalieri, Turin, Italy
| | - Marianna Riolo
- S. C. Neurologia, Dipartimento Area Medica, Ospedale Santa Croce di Moncalieri, ASLTo5, 10024 Moncalieri, Turin, Italy
| | - Iacopo Battaglini
- S. C. Neurologia, Dipartimento Area Medica, Ospedale Santa Croce di Moncalieri, ASLTo5, 10024 Moncalieri, Turin, Italy
| | - Marilisa Perna
- S. S. Stoke Unit, Dipartimento Area Medica, Ospedale Santa Croce di Moncalieri, ASLTo5, 10024 Moncalieri, Turin, Italy
| | - Marco De Mattei
- S. C. Neurologia, Dipartimento Area Medica, Ospedale Santa Croce di Moncalieri, ASLTo5, 10024 Moncalieri, Turin, Italy
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Pinna G. Role of PPAR-Allopregnanolone Signaling in Behavioral and Inflammatory Gut-Brain Axis Communications. Biol Psychiatry 2023; 94:609-618. [PMID: 37156350 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The gut microbiome regulates emotional behavior, stress responses, and inflammatory processes by communicating with the brain. How and which neurobiological mediators underlie this communication remain poorly understood. PPAR-α (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α), a transcription factor susceptible to epigenetic modifications, regulates pathophysiological functions, including metabolic syndrome, inflammation, and behavior. Mood disorders, inflammatory processes, and obesity are intertwined phenomena that are associated with low blood concentrations of the anti-inflammatory and "endogenous tranquilizer" neurosteroid allopregnanolone and poor PPAR-α function. Stress and consumption of obesogenic diets repress PPAR function in brain, enterocytes, lipocytes, and immune modulatory cells favoring inflammation, lipogenesis, and mood instability. Conversely, micronutrients and modulators of PPAR-α function improve microbiome composition, dampen systemic inflammation and lipogenesis, and improve anxiety and depression. In rodent stress models of anxiety and depression, PPAR activation normalizes both PPAR-α expression downregulation and decreased allopregnanolone content and ameliorates depressive-like behavior and fear responses. PPAR-α is known to regulate metabolic and inflammatory processes activated by short-chain fatty acids; endocannabinoids and congeners, such as N-palmitoylethanolamide, drugs that treat dyslipidemias; and micronutrients, including polyunsaturated fatty acids. Both PPAR-α and allopregnanolone are abundantly expressed in the colon, and they exert potent anti-inflammatory actions by blocking the toll-like receptor-4-nuclear factor-κB pathway in peripheral immune cells, neurons, and glia. The perspective that PPAR-α regulation in the colon by gut microbiota or metabolites influences central allopregnanolone content after trafficking to the brain, thereby serving as a mediator of gut-brain axis communications, is examined in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graziano Pinna
- Psychiatric Institute, University of Illinois Center on Depression and Resilience, and Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
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Pirro M, Ferri L, Piccioni L, Bellucci AM, Bartolucci F, Russo A, Piga A, Ciaramaglia PL, Lucangeli M, Russo AM, Cuzzocrea S, Evangelista M. What Is the Role of Palmitoylethanolamide Co-Ultramicronized with Luteolin on the Symptomatology Reported by Patients Suffering from Long COVID? A Retrospective Analysis Performed by a Group of General Practitioners in a Real-Life Setting. Nutrients 2023; 15:3701. [PMID: 37686733 PMCID: PMC10490268 DOI: 10.3390/nu15173701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Long COVID is a recognized post-viral syndrome characterized by neurological, somatic and neuropsychiatric symptoms that might last for long time after SARS-CoV-2 infection. An ever-growing number of patients come to the observation of General Practitioners complaining of mild or moderate symptoms after the resolution of the acute infection. Nine General Practitioners from the Rome area (Italy) performed a retrospective analysis in order to evaluate the role of the supplementation with Palmitoylethanolamide co-ultramicronized with Luteolin (PEALUT) on neurologic and clinical symptoms reported by their patients after COVID-19 resolution. Supplementation with PEALUT helped to improve all patient-reported symptoms, especially pain, anxiety and depression, fatigue, brain fog, anosmia and dysgeusia, leading to an overall improvement in patients' health status. To our knowledge these are the first data presented on Long COVID patients collected in a territorial setting. Despite their preliminary nature, these results highlight the pathogenetic role of "non-resolving" neuroinflammation in Long COVID development and consequently the importance of its control in the resolution of the pathology and put the focus on the General Practitioner as the primary figure for early detection and management of Long COVID syndrome in a real-life setting. Future randomized, controlled, perspective clinical trials are needed to confirm this preliminary observation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurizio Pirro
- Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL), Sistema Sanitario Regionale, 00012 Rome, Italy
| | - Luana Ferri
- Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL), Sistema Sanitario Regionale, 00012 Rome, Italy
| | - Licia Piccioni
- Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL), Sistema Sanitario Regionale, 00012 Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Bellucci
- Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL), Sistema Sanitario Regionale, 00012 Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Bartolucci
- Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL), Sistema Sanitario Regionale, 00012 Rome, Italy
| | - Arianna Russo
- Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL), Sistema Sanitario Regionale, 00012 Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Piga
- Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL), Sistema Sanitario Regionale, 00012 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Marco Lucangeli
- Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL), Sistema Sanitario Regionale, 00012 Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Russo
- Institute of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Salvatore Cuzzocrea
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Maurizio Evangelista
- Institute of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy
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Bortoletto R, Piscitelli F, Candolo A, Bhattacharyya S, Balestrieri M, Colizzi M. Questioning the role of palmitoylethanolamide in psychosis: a systematic review of clinical and preclinical evidence. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1231710. [PMID: 37533892 PMCID: PMC10390736 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1231710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The endocannabinoid (eCB) system disruption has been suggested to underpin the development of psychosis, fueling the search for novel, better-tolerated antipsychotic agents that target the eCB system. Among these, palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), an N-acylethanolamine (AE) with neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties, has drawn attention for its antipsychotic potential. Methods This Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020-compliant systematic review aimed at reappraising all clinical and preclinical studies investigating the biobehavioral role of PEA in psychosis. Results Overall, 13 studies were eligible for data extraction (11 human, 2 animal). Observational studies investigating PEA tone in psychosis patients converged on the evidence for increased PEA plasma (6 human) and central nervous system (CNS; 1 human) levels, as a potential early compensatory response to illness and its severity, that seems to be lost in the longer-term (CNS; 1 human), opening to the possibility of exogenously supplementing it to sustain control of the disorder. Consistently, PEA oral supplementation reduced negative psychotic and manic symptoms among psychosis patients, with no serious adverse events (3 human). No PEA changes emerged in either preclinical psychosis model (2 animal) studied. Discussion Evidence supports PEA signaling as a potential psychosis biomarker, also indicating a therapeutic role of its supplementation in the disorder. Systematic review registration https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/AFMTK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Bortoletto
- Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Fabiana Piscitelli
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Materials Technologies, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council (CNR), Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Anna Candolo
- Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Sagnik Bhattacharyya
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Matteo Balestrieri
- Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Marco Colizzi
- Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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Benussi A, Borroni B. Advances in the treatment and management of frontotemporal dementia. Expert Rev Neurother 2023; 23:621-639. [PMID: 37357688 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2023.2228491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by a wide range of pathological conditions associated with the buildup of proteins such as tau and TDP-43. With a strong hereditary component, FTD often results from genetic variants in three genes - MAPT, GRN, and C9orf72. AREAS COVERED In this review, the authors explore abnormal protein accumulation in FTD and forthcoming treatments, providing a detailed analysis of new diagnostic advancements, including innovative markers. They analyze how these discoveries have influenced therapeutic strategies, particularly disease-modifying treatments, which could potentially transform FTD management. This comprehensive exploration of FTD from its molecular underpinnings to its therapeutic prospects offers a compelling overview of the current state of FTD research. EXPERT OPINION Notable challenges in FTD management involve identifying reliable biomarkers for early diagnosis and response monitoring. Genetic forms of FTD, particularly those linked to C9orf72 and GRN, show promise, with targeted therapies resulting in substantial progress in disease-modifying strategies. The potential of neuromodulation techniques, like tDCS and rTMS, is being explored, requiring further study. Ongoing trials and multi-disciplinary care highlight the continued push toward effective FTD treatments. With increasing understanding of FTD's molecular and clinical intricacies, the hope for developing effective interventions grows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Benussi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neurological and Vision Sciences, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neurological and Vision Sciences, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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