title: Palmitoylethanolamide versus a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug in the treatment of temporomandibular joint inflammatory pain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To carry out a randomized clinical trial to compare the effect of palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) versus ibuprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), for pain relief in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis or arthralgia. PEA acts as an endogenous agent with an autacoid local inflammation antagonism and modulates mast cell behavior controlling both acute and chronic inflammation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A triple-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on 24 patients (16 women and 8 men) aged 24 to 54 years and suffering from TMJ osteoarthritis or arthralgia. The patients were enrolled from a group of 120 consecutive patients referred to the University of Bologna's Department of Orthodontics. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: group A (12 subjects) received PEA 300 mg in the morning and 600 mg in the evening for 7 days and then 300 mg twice a day for 7 more days. Group B (12 subjects) received ibuprofen 600 mg three times a day for 2 weeks. Every patient recorded the intensity of spontaneous pain on a visual analog scale twice a day. Maximum mouth opening was recorded by a blind operator during the first visit and again after the 14th day of drug treatment. A t test was used for data comparisons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pain decrease after 2 weeks of treatment was significantly higher in group A than in group B (P = .0001); maximum mouth opening improved more in group A than in group B (P = .022).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that PEA is effective in treating TMJ inflammatory pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. idmarini@tin.it
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.forename: Maria Lavinia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bartolucci
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bortolotti
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Gatto
authors.forename: Giulio Alessandri
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Bonetti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000577:Amides; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D004983:Ethanolamines; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010169:Palmitic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D004983:Ethanolamines; D010169:Palmitic Acids; C005958:palmidrol; D007052:Ibuprofen