PEA is a naturally occurring substance found in such items as blue-green algae, salami, bologna, and of course, chocolate. In recent years, it has also become an extremely popular ingredient in numerous dietary supplements, ranging from weight loss products to ‘whole health’ products.

Often dubbed “The love molecule” PEA, is a compound naturally produced by the brain, is responsible for the feeling of experiences associated with pleasure and mental awareness. For example, when one is absorbed by an activity like painting, sculpting, or reading a fascinating book, when the world around seems suspended and nothing can disturb us, when worries vanish and hunger goes away, in such moments PEA is being produced by the brain. Likewise, PEA is released in the brain when one experiences the feelings of love and joy. For this reason, PEA has been coined “The love molecule.” When taken orally, PEA is known to readily cross the blood-brain barrier and become immediately available in the brain.

In the brain, PEA is believed to act by having a greater affinity for the re-uptake mechanism for dopamine in presynaptic vesicles. Therefore, when present in the brain, PEA is captured into the presynaptic vesicles and occupies the space normally taken by dopamine. This leads to an increase in free-circulating dopamine in the presynaptic terminal and a higher concentration of dopamine diffusing into the synaptic cleft, therefore enhancing dopaminergic transmission.