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Head-to-head evidence comparison — which supplement is right for you?
PEA vs Vitex: PEA has the stronger overall evidence (7.5 vs 7/10); they're alternatives for pms relief — the best pick depends on your goals. Take the 60-second quiz for a pick tailored to your goals.
PEA wins 3 of 3 categories. Both are solid choices — the best pick depends on your specific goals.
Verdict
Too few graded studies
1 of 1 studies with measurable effects showed benefit.
Top outcomes
Verdict
Likely helps
3 of 4 studies with measurable effects showed benefit.
Top outcomes
Shared outcomes (1)
Outcomes where both PEA and Vitex have evidence — compare verdict strength side-by-side.
600-1200mg
Two divided doses a day, as in the knee osteoarthritis and burning mouth trials, Or 400 mg three times a day (1,200 mg a day)
Micronised or ultramicronised PEA
20-40mg extract (standardized to 0.5% agnuside). The cited trials used 20 to 30 mg of extract a day.
Morning, Consistently at same time daily
Standardized extract (0.5% agnuside or 0.6% aucubin)
and 1 more not shown
2-8 weeks
4-8 weeks
Ongoing
1-3 cycles
2-3 cycles
1-2 cycles
Extended Treatment with Micron-Size Oral Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) in Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Nutrients (2024) · Meta analysis · n=742
These two obtained scores corresponded to a 35.1% pain intensity reduction within the first month, followed by a further 35.4% during the second month.
Palmitoylethanolamide in the Treatment of Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trials
Nutrients (2023) · Meta analysis · n=774
PEA was found to reduce pain scores relative to comparators in a pooled estimate, with a standard mean difference of 1.68 (95% CI 1.05 to 2.31, p = 0.00001).
Navigating agitation in neurodevelopmental disorders: A comparative study of pharmacotherapies via network meta-analysis in children and adults with autism spectrum disorder or intellectual disabilities
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) (2025) · Meta analysis · n=2503
Importantly, these treatments were generally well-tolerated, with no significant increase in all-cause dropouts compared to placebo, highlighting their suitability for clinical use in managing agitation in individuals with ASD or ID.
Vitex agnus-castus in premenstrual syndrome: A meta-analysis of double-blind randomised controlled trials
Complementary Therapies in Medicine (2019) · Meta analysis · n=520
Out of 21 clinical trials, three double-blind placebo-controlled studies (520 females) met the reporting criteria, testing the characterised extracts Ze 440 and BNO 1095.
Herbal medicine for depression and anxiety: A systematic review with assessment of potential psycho-oncologic relevance
Phytotherapy research : PTR (2018) · Systematic review
Overall, 45% of studies reported positive findings with fewer adverse effects compared with conventional medications.
A Critical Approach to Evaluating Clinical Efficacy, Adverse Events and Drug Interactions of Herbal Remedies
Phytotherapy research : PTR (2016) · Review
A critical narrative review of published systematic reviews and meta-analyses of herbal remedies. It pools no data of its own.
The points come from one dose-finding RCT of the Ze 440 extract in 162 women with PMS over three cycles, at 8, 20 or 30 mg a day (PMID 23022391). Total symptom scores improved more at 20 mg than with placebo or 8 mg, and 30 mg did not improve them further than 20 mg, so the curve is flat above 20 mg. All three doses were well tolerated, and no higher dose of this extract was tested. A meta-analysis of 3 trials of characterised extracts (Ze 440, BNO 1095; 520 women) found Vitex users 2.57 times more likely to remit (PMID 31780016). A broader pooled effect was large but rated explorative because of high risk of bias, heterogeneity (I² 91%) and publication bias (PMID 28237870).
AI-estimated from published studies. Interpret as directional guidance.
PEA has a higher evidence score (7.5/10 vs 7/10) and wins in 3 of 3 categories.
For pms relief, Vitex has a higher relevance score (90 vs 65).
No documented interaction was found in the data searched. This does not establish that this exact combination is safe.
The right pick depends on your goals. Answer a few quick questions for a personalised recommendation — or dig into the full evidence on each.