A new clinical study has highlighted the potential of Gencor's palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) ingredient, Levagen+ in supporting women's health.
The study, which assessed the ingredient's efficacy in reducing menstrual cramps, found that daily supplementation with Levagen+ could reduce menstrual cramps by up to 25% in individuals with mild to moderate period cramps.
This result points out the specialised anti-inflammatory benefits that PEA supplementation can provide.
The underlying causes of menstrual pain
Period cramps, otherwise known as primary dysmenorrhea, are incredibly common amongst women within the reproductive age bracket, with between 45 and 95% of women experiencing it at some point, depending on region.
The World Health Organization estimates that menstrual cramps are the leading cause of chronic pelvic pain globally, highlighting the need for effective pain management solutions for this affliction.
Currently, the underlying mechanisms of primary dysmenorrhea are not fully understood, though pain is likely caused by an overproduction of uterine prostaglandins — specifically PGE2 and PGF2α.
Alongside painful symptoms, prostaglandins are believed to be associated with the secondary effects of menstrual pain, which include nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.
The hormone-like substance can also trigger the elevated release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which can cause a further exacerbation of symptoms.
The study
Prior preclinical research has suggested that PEA can support inflammatory balance though the activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR α).
With this in mind, researchers wanted to assess how Levagen+ could function as a pain relief supplement for otherwise healthy women experiencing menstrual pain.
The randomised, placebo-controlled study assessed the benefits of PEA supplementation in 80 adult women who self-reported mild to moderate period pain symptoms.
Participants were then given either 350mg of Levagen+ or a placebo, with pain scores for each group being recorded for four hours after use.
Measurements were taken every 30 minutes during this period.
Levagen+ reduces the burden of menstrual pain
Notably, after 1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5 hours, those receiving Levagen+ experienced a 25% reduction in menstrual pain, suggesting that Levagen+ could be an effective natural strategy to relieving period pains in healthy women.
“Despite its negative effect on daily life and common occurrence, menstrual pain is often perceived as a ‘normal’ facet of a woman’s menstrual cycle,” said R.V. Venkatesh, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Gencor.
“The results of this study show that Levagen+ can be an effective and quick-acting supplement to support women during their monthly cycles. We are excited to continue to explore how Levagen+ can support female health.”
