Summary: One of the new studies shows that a lipid molecule naturally occurring in the human body can modulate pain sensation. It is especially good for reducing pain sensation in those living with hyperalgesia or increased pain sensation, which is a common issue in those living with chronic pain.
Chronic pain is one of the most common issues, causing much disability, and yet it is challenging to manage. Quite often, the cause of chronic pain remains poorly identified. Moreover, those living with chronic pain show greater pain sensitivity. One of the new studies has identified a natural molecule that may help reduce pain sensitivity. Chronic pain specialists have highlighted the need for more targeted treatments to address heightened pain sensitivity in such conditions.
Higher pain sensitivity is seen in almost all chronic pains. So, higher pain sensitivity is seen in those living with low back pain, joint pain, fibromyalgia, chronic pain syndrome, Lyme disease, and many other painful conditions.
Science knows that in most chronic pain conditions, this high pain sensitivity is the prime cause of persistent pain. However, most medications used to treat chronic pain cannot reduce pain sensitivity. Thus, commonly used painkillers like NSAIDs help reduce inflammation, but they do not reduce pain sensitivity.
Similarly, opioids may help suppress pain sensations in the brain. However, they do not reduce pain sensitivity.
Even worse, some of the commonly used painkillers, including opioids, may instead make people more sensitive to pain. This is the reason why people using opioids or other painkillers find it so difficult to discontinue those drugs. If they stop using those drugs, they experience even worse pain due to an increased pain sensitivity.
Those with increased pain sensitivity may experience chronic pain more frequently, too. For them, just any kind of health issue may act as a pain trigger, making their condition worse. Thus, such individuals may experience bad pains after a cold, flu, or other health issues. This is the reason why such individuals may even experience pain due to mood changes.
In a new study reported in Nature Communications, researchers found that phosphatidic acid, naturally found in the human body, can reduce touch sensation. It can also reduce the sensitivity of pain receptors. In the study, researchers found that phosphatidic acid acts as a natural inhibitor of piezo2 channels and mechanical sensitivity. This breakthrough offers hope for instititutes like interventional pain management, as they could help reduce reliance on traditional painkillers by addressing the underlying pain mechanisms.
Researchers have long known that specific lipids act as modulators of different sensations and can also modulate pain.
Knowing about such signaling molecules naturally produced by our body is important. This means that one can safely reduce pain by modulating the body’s production of such molecules. This can be particularly good for controlling chronic pain. Such an approach is also likely to be safer and help with different kinds of pain. Moreover, in many cases, it may help treat the root cause of chronic pain, which is increased sensitivity to pain.
This is not the first study to show the role of phosphatidic acid in pain regulation. In fact, this lipid is also available as a supplement for brain health and is regarded as suitable for managing pain. However, when phosphatidic acid is taken as a health supplement, it is not known to have a significant pain-killing effect. There could be multiple reasons for this. Firstly, it only reduces pain sensation, thus helping those living with hyperalgesia or increased pain sensation. Secondly, when taken as a health supplement, it just might fail to reach the relevant body tissues.
To overcome these problems, researchers are looking for ways to modulate its production in the body. This would be a more effective way to control pain and may also have some other health benefits.
Frequently asked questions
What is hyperalgesia?
Hyperalgesia is increased pain sensation: the nervous system turns up the volume, so the same signal hurts more than it should. It is a common problem in people living with chronic pain, and higher pain sensitivity shows up in almost every chronic pain condition. For many of them, a cold, the flu, another health problem or even a change in mood is enough to trigger a bad pain day.
Can opioids make you more sensitive to pain?
Yes. Opioids suppress pain sensations in the brain, but they do not reduce pain sensitivity, and some commonly used painkillers, opioids included, may make people more sensitive to pain. That is why stopping these drugs is so hard: when people quit, they feel even worse pain because their sensitivity has gone up.
Is hyperalgesia the same as fibromyalgia?
No. Hyperalgesia is a feature, not a diagnosis. Fibromyalgia is one of the conditions where it appears, along with low back pain, joint pain, chronic pain syndrome, Lyme disease and many other painful conditions. In most of them, this heightened sensitivity is the main reason the pain persists.
What natural molecule reduces pain perception?
Phosphatidic acid, a lipid the human body makes on its own. A study in Nature Communications found that it acts as a natural brake on PIEZO2 channels, which lowers touch sensation and the sensitivity of pain receptors. That makes it most relevant to people whose pain comes from heightened sensitivity rather than new injury.
Does a phosphatidic acid supplement help with pain?
Not in any meaningful way so far. Phosphatidic acid is sold as a brain-health supplement, but taken that way it is not known to have a significant pain-killing effect. It only lowers pain sensitivity, and a supplement may never reach the tissues that matter, so researchers are looking for ways to change how much the body produces instead.
Source:
Gabrielle, M., Yudin, Y., Wang, Y., Su, X., & Rohacs, T. (2024). Phosphatidic acid is an endogenous negative regulator of PIEZO2 channels and mechanical sensitivity. Nature Communications, 15(1), 7020. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-51181-4
Dr. Gurpreet Singh Padda, MD, MBA, MHP
