The love hormone helps regulate men’s appetite when it is sprayed into the nostrils. Researchers hope they have opened up a path in the treatment of obesity.
“Living on love and fresh water”, this expression seems to take on its full meaning when you are in love. Until we cut our hunger. But what is the cause? According to an American study presented shortly at the annual endocrinology conference in San Diego, oxytocin is responsible for the lack of appetite.
This hormone nicknamed the hormone of love participates in the creation of emotional bonds, in particular between the mother and her baby. It is secreted during breastfeeding and sexual intercourse and is responsible for contractions during childbirth.
Animal studies have been carried out to find out its role in regulating appetite. Thanks to the positive results, researchers at Harvard Medical University tried the experiment in humans.
They followed 25 men: 12 were overweight or obese and 13 were of normal weight. The participants were then divided into 2 groups. The first tested oxytocin and the second the placebo. They all did not know what product they had. On an empty stomach, participants sprayed the oxytocin spray once into each nostril. An hour later, they were served a hearty breakfast. After the meal, the researchers measured the calorie intake ingested by the participants.
Less calories and fat
A few days later, the participants repeated the experiment, still blind, with the opposite treatment. Between the two visits, the participants wrote down their meals in a notebook. They reported no difference in the amount of food eaten before and after treatment.
However, after breakfasts, the men who tested oxytocin reduced their calorie intake by 122 calories on average and their fat intake by 9 grams compared to the placebo group. Researchers have also observed that oxytocin promotes the burning of fat for energy. Blood tests do not show that oxytocin acts on hormones that regulate appetite. Although the researchers have not identified its mechanism of action, they believe their results are encouraging.
“Our results are very exciting,” enthused study lead author Elizabeth Lawson, “More studies are needed but I think oxytocin is a promising treatment for obesity and metabolic disorders. “
The researcher also believes that research in women should be carried out since oxytocin is a hormone with specific effects depending on gender. Currently, this spray is only authorized in Europe.
.
