Oatmeal Effect on N-acyl-phosphatidylethanolamines

N-acyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (NAPEs) and their active metabolites, N-acyl-ethanolamides (NAEs) are lipid satiety factors that are normally biosynthesized in the intestinal tract in response to food intake. Reduced levels of NAPEs and NAEs have been found in obese individuals, and increasing plasma NAPE and NAEs levels may be beneficial to obese individuals trying to lose weight or to keep off weight gain after losing weight. We have found that oatmeal has large amounts of NAPEs, and based on previous mouse studies, we hypothesize that a single dose of dietary oatmeal is sufficient to double plasma NAE from baseline, possibly inducing satiety and increasing basal metabolic rate. To test this hypothesis, we will feed volunteers a single weight-based serving of oatmeal while monitoring its effects on serum glucose, NAPE and NAE levels as well as on subjective satiety.