Oleoylethanolamide: a new player in energy metabolism control. Role in food intake

Oleoylethanolamide (OEA) is a lipid amide produced by enterocytes upon the absorption of dietary fat and participates in the induction of satiety. Through indirect pathways, probably depending on the local activation of peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor-alpha and involving afferent vagus nerve fibers, OEA signal is transmitted to the brain-stem and the hypothalamus, where it stimulates the release of oxytocin from magnocellular neurons. OEA mechanism might, thus, provide a novel target for the design of therapies controlling appetite. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.