Stearic acid as a signalling molecule: SEA. Stearoylethanolamide.

In the latest video I explain the basics of the ethanolamide system.  You may have heard of OEA, an ethanolamide made from oleic acid (olive oil) when you eat.  OEA can lower caloric intake and inflammation.

Ethanolamides can be made from any fat.  When made from the omega-6 arachidonic acid they become AEA and trigger cannabinoid receptors.  AEA is associated with obesity and overeating.

SEA (stearoylethanolamide) is made from stearic acid.  Of the major ethanolamides, SEA is the least researched.  It has been shown to reduce appetite, to suppress SCD-1 in the liver and to have quite dramatic effects on reducing inflammation.  It also has been shown to restore the levels of delta 6 desaturase (D6D) activity in insulin resistant rats.  As I pointed out in last weeks video, the desaturase enzymes predict metabolic disease progression.

SEA is a little different from the other ethanolamides – it does not trigger cannabinoid receptors or PPAR alpha.   There is some evidence that it is regulated oppositely of OEA.  I discuss in the video why you might want the benefits of the ethanolamides WITHOUT triggering PPAR alpha or the cannabinoid receptors.

I pointed out in The History of Bodyfat Composition that stearic acid has declined precipitously and uniquely among fats over the last 80 years.  I present evidence in this video that this may have led to a corollary drop in circulating SEA levels.

My speculation is that some of the magic of stearic acid supplementation happens via upregulation of SEA.  

Get Some SEA!

I am also excited to be able to make SEA available in supplement form.  To my knowledge this has not been available in the US!

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