Supplementing with a palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) ingredient marketed by Gencor as Levagen+ was linked to acute improvements in menstrual cramps in a recent clinical study.

Menstrual pain impacts the majority of women, and its effects aren’t fully understood. The main cause appears to by overproduction of uterine prostaglandins, which peak during early days of menstruation, Gencor reported. Aside from their regulatory effects on inflammation, pain, and body temperature, prostaglandin production is also thought to contribute to secondary symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Women experiencing dysmenorrhea may show elevated levels of pro-inflammatory mediators and an increased body temperature.

Preclinical studies suggested that PEA’s mechanism of action may support a balanced inflammatory response, thereby reliving occasional discomfort associated with menopause in otherwise healthy women.

The study, which was carried out in a randomized, crossover, double-blind, placebo-controlled design, included 80 menstruating women who reported mild to moderate cramp pain. They were randomized to receive either 350 mg of Levagen+ or a placebo, and recorded pain scores on the numerical pain rating scale every 30 minutes for up to four hours.

Supplementation significantly reduced self-reported pain scores compared to placebo at 1, 1.5, 2, and 2.5 hours post-dose, with a pain score reduction of approximately 25% by 2.5 hours compared to the placebo group.

“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.”