Intranasal Oxytocin for Obesity | NEJM Evidence
Population:
Adults with obesity
61 participants: 54% women
Mean age: 33.6 ± 6.2 years
Mean BMI: 36.9 ± 4.9
Intervention:
Intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) administered four times daily for 8 weeks
Comparison:
Placebo administered four times daily for 8 weeks
Outcomes:
Primary Outcome:
Change in body weight (kg) from baseline to week 8
Result: No significant difference between oxytocin and placebo groups (0.20 vs. 0.26 kg; P=0.934)
Secondary Outcomes:
No difference in change in body composition:
Total fat mass: Difference 196.0 g [95% CI, −1036 to 1428]
Abdominal visceral adipose tissue: Difference 3.1 cm² [95% CI, −11.0 to 17.2]
Liver fat fraction: Difference −0.01 [95% CI, −0.03 to 0.01]
Resting energy expenditure (adjusted for lean mass): Difference −64.0 kcal/day [95% CI, −129.3 to 1.4]
Caloric intake at experimental test meal (week 6): Difference −152.0 kcal [95% CI, −302.3 to −1.7]
Adverse Events:
No serious adverse events
Incidence and severity of adverse events did not differ between oxytocin and placebo groups
Perspectives
This study provides important insights into the potential use of intranasal oxytocin for treating obesity. Despite promising preclinical evidence, the results indicate that oxytocin does not significantly impact body weight, body composition, or resting energy expenditure over an 8-week period in adults with obesity. However, there was a notable reduction in caloric intake at a test meal, suggesting some effect on appetite regulation.
These results may reflect the challenges of intranasal oxytocin crossing the blood-brain barrier. Future studies should explore more effective delivery methods to determine oxytocin's role in human weight regulation.
Intranasal Oxytocin for Obesity | NEJM Evidence