SEA is a signaling molecule made by the body from stearic acid.
Over the last 80 years, stearic acid levels of Americans have dropped from around 8% of bodyfat to around 3%. This has likely led to a decline in SEA levels relative to the other ethanolamides.
Studies in rodents have shown SEA to reduce appetite (Terrazzino, 2004), suppress the enzyme SCD-1 in the liver and to have powerful anti-inflammatory effects (Berdyshev, 2015).
SEA is unique from the other ethanolamides (PEA and OEA). AEA triggers cannabinoid receptors and is associated with obesity. (Mehrpouya-Bahrami, 2017) OEA and PEA activate PPAR alpha, which when highly activated is involved in initiating torpor. (Chu, 2012)
People are reporting success with SEA: https://www.reddit.com/r/SaturatedFat/comments/16tj9zh/longer_term_experiences_with_sea/
Berdyshev, A. G., et al. (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prostaglandins.2015.05.001
Chu, L. P., & Swoap, S. J. (2012). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2011.11.011
Mehrpouya-Bahrami, P., et al. (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-15154-6
Terrazzino, S., et al. (2004). https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.03-1080fje