Researchers are studying variations of a family of human hormones - known as N-acylphosphatidylethanolamines, or NAPEs - for their effectiveness in controlling appetite and therefore obesity. The tiny molecule produced in the small intestine, is presently known to be responsible for sending a signal to the brain, helping it to register the impact of the amount of fat consumed.

For the present, researchers are conducting tests on rats and mice in laboratory settings that are aimed at the discovery of a fat derived signal that could be harnessed to regulate food consumption. One of the sensitive tests used by researchers - the LC tandem mass spectrometry - was responsible for identifying the NAPE group of fat sensing molecules.

Dr. Gerald Shulman, senior author of a study in rats published in the November 26 issue of the journal Cell, said: "We're excited but we have to be cautious. We would love to be able to take this to man tomorrow because we need effective ways to treat obesity and, right now, we have very few agents that work effectively. But we have much work to do."

Research has shown that levels of NAPEs increased consistently in rats and mice that had just eaten a fatty meal. When synthesized and re-injected into the lab rodents, NAPEs shut down their food intake, which makes them consume less, and lose weight. NAPEs also appear to concentrate in the hypothalamus, an area with a high concentration of neurons involved in the regulation of food intake.

These research findings on the appetite suppressing hormones of the NAPE are interesting and invigorating. Hopefully, medical science will be able to synthesize these molecules released naturally by the gut in order to administer to humans in a supplement form.