A new placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial showed that Levagen+ (palmitoylethanolamide, PEA) significantly improved mobility, comfort and functional outcomes in dogs and cats with joint pain. Published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, the 6-week trial evaluated 50 dogs and 50 cats.
“Pet wellness is absolutely booming,” Liza Pepple, Southeast sales director, Saanroo, said. “Younger generations are spending more on their pets than themselves and they’re really looking for clean, safe ingredients that support health before problems start.”
Indeed, Grand View Research estimated the global pet supplements market at USD 2.76 billion in 2025 and projects it to reach USD 4.65 billion by 2033. The growing demand for pet supplementation reflects rising demand for evidence-based solutions, with joint health being a top concern.
“When pets start aging, you can see them struggle—getting up, walking, playing,” she said. “Having something that can improve those everyday movements is something pet owners can actually see.”
Building on prior human clinical research
The findings build on Levagen+’s existing human clinical portfolio in joint health and inflammation, where the ingredient has demonstrated benefits in mobility and recovery. Given the shared biological pathways involved, researchers saw a clear opportunity to evaluate whether those effects could translate to companion animals.
“Given the shared biological pathways between humans and companion animals, we had strong rationale to expect similar anti-inflammatory and mobility benefits in pets,” Pepple told NI. “We looked at the mechanism and found it modulates PPAR-alpha and the endocannabinoid system, which are very similar in companion animals,” adding that this provided confidence the effects would in fact translate to pets.
In dogs, 76% of those receiving Levagen+ were classified as successfully treated compared to 40% in the placebo group, with improvements observed across multiple pain and functional measures. In cats, statistically significant improvements were observed in specific functional tasks, including jumping up and down, along with reductions in “pain today” scores at both week two and week six.
Delivery format
From a formulation standpoint, Pepple said the ingredient’s low effective dose and favorable safety profile allow for flexibility across delivery formats, while minimizing the risk of adverse interactions with other ingredients.
“It’s a very versatile ingredient—you can use it in chews, powders, even liquids, and combine it with other ingredients without worrying about negative interactions,” she said.
With its formulation flexibility and expanding body of research, Levagen+ is well-positioned for next-gen pet mobility and wellness formulations, Pepple said, adding, “There’s a lot of opportunity in this category.”
Source: Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2026 Sec. Anesthesiology and Animal Pain Management. Doi: doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2026.1703143. Levagen+ (palmitoylethanolamide) alleviates joint pain and reduces the impact of joint pain in canines and felines: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. Authors: D. Briskey, et al.
