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Head-to-head evidence comparison — which supplement is right for you?
PEA vs Zinc: Zinc has the stronger overall evidence (8.5 vs 7.5/10); 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.
Zinc wins 2 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
13 of 15 studies with measurable effects showed benefit.
Top outcomes
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
15-25mg daily (a typical label dose, not the dose used in the cited trials, which used about 30 mg a day)
With meals
Zinc picolinate or zinc citrate
and 4 more not shown
2-8 weeks
4-8 weeks
Ongoing
2-4 weeks
2-4 weeks
4-8 weeks
Immediate
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.
Efficacy of Zinc Supplementation in the Management of Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Nutrients (2024) · Meta analysis · n=739
Zinc supplementation significantly reduced pain severity compared to placebo (Hedges's g = -1.541; 95% CI: -2.268 to -0.814; p < 0.001), representing a clinically meaningful reduction in pain.
Effects of Daily Zinc Alone or in Combination with Other Nutrient Supplements on the Risk of Malaria Parasitaemia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials
Nutrients (2023) · Meta analysis · n=1339
The effect sizes, represented as risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), were standardised by transforming them into log RRs and then pooling them using a fixed-effects or random-effects model depending on the heterogeneity across studies.
Prevalence of Zinc Deficiency in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Nutrients (2022) · Meta analysis · n=806
Pooled analyses by the IBD subgroup showed a total population of 1677 with CD, for an overall mean zinc deficiency prevalence of 54% and 95% confidence intervals (CI) ranging from 0.51 to 0.56, versus 41% (95%CI 0.38-0.45) in the UC population (n = 806).
Zinc has a higher evidence score (8.5/10 vs 7.5/10) and wins in 2 of 3 categories.
For pms relief, Zinc 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.
AREDS2 works for diagnosed AMD; lutein/screen-strain claims are weaker. Who actually benefits.
The popular one (saw palmetto) mostly fails in rigorous trials; beta-sitosterol is the better bet.
Selenium helps; iodine can WORSEN Hashimoto’s. The honest take on "thyroid support".
CoQ10, zinc, selenium, carnitine modestly help sperm parameters — but live-birth evidence is weak.
The right pick depends on your goals. Answer a few quick questions for a personalised recommendation — or dig into the full evidence on each.