Study: Natural Fat Compound Could Be Basis for New Drugs Targeting Obesity

A natural fat compound that tells the body to stop eating could be the basis for a new class of drugs targeting obesity and other eating disorders, according to a study reported in the September 4 issue of Nature.

Daniele Piomelli, a professor University of California-Irvine College of Medicine, and her colleagues found that increasing levels of the fatty acid oleylethanolamide (OEA) appears to reduce appetite and weight in rodents, as well as lower their blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Piomelli believes OEA is attractive for drug development because it is a fatty acid naturally produced in the body and could be safer than current drugs when used as a long-term therapy for obesity.

"There are many drugs being tested for obesity in current clinical trials, but most don't succeed because they are not well tolerated by patients," Piomelli said. "As an endogenous compound, OEA has the potential for being much less toxic than other man-made compounds. "

Other sources: University of California-Irvine