Oxytocin 10mg

Oxytocin is both a hormone and neurotransmitter that is widely recognized for its role in evoking empathy, trust, sexual activity, and the bonding of relationships. Oxytocin has also been called the “love hormone” because its levels are naturally raised during physical contact, such as hugging or sexual activity.

In addition to its use in social bonding, oxytocin has also shown promise in treating a number of medical conditions, including depression, anxiety, and digestive disorders.

This hormone is released in the hypothalamus, a region of the brain. Research in animals shows that females tend to have more oxytocin than males.

What is Oxytocin?

Oxytocin is both a hormone and neurotransmitter, which is produced in the hypothalamus. It then travels to the pituitary gland, which is located at the back of the brain, where it is released into the body.

This hormone has an active role in the majority of the female reproductive system processes, including sexual activity, birth, and lactation. For example, during lactation, stimulation of the nipple can lead to its secretion.

During birth, oxytocin induces uterine contractions, enabling the uterine muscles to contract as labor progresses. When the cervix and vagina open at delivery, oxytocin levels rise, leading to more intense and frequent contractions.

In addition to reproduction, oxytocin also affects social behaviors. 

Oxytocin Research 

The Role of Oxytocin in Cardiovascular Health

In light of its newly characterized action on inflammation and healing, oxytocin is also being studied for cardiovascular conditions. Early data indicate that the peptide has the ability to influence the heart and cardiovascular system. Oxytocin has been associated with less fat deposition, enhanced glucose metabolism, lower blood pressure, and less anxiety-like behavior in preclinical models—all of which are indicators of cardiovascular health. These preliminary results have influenced some scientists to investigate whether oxytocin can improve current therapies which treat the cardiovascular system.

There is also some evidence to suggest an association between oxytocin receptor function and atherosclerosis. In some cases, inefficient expression of oxytocin receptors can lead to vascular dysfunction. Experimental models have indicated that potentiation of oxytocin signaling in patients with dysfunctional receptors can preserve cardiovascular function and control the progression of arterial plaque formation. However, we need more studies about these mechanisms.

In experimentally cardiac-injured animals (e.g., ischemia induced), intracardially administered oxytocin was shown to decrease cell injury in the cardiac tissue. It has been stated by one group of researchers that long-term exposure to oxytocin could affect healing by influencing cardiac stem cells that might have a role in tissue healing. Such effects would include actions such as differentiation or secretion of signal factors, but these are also preclinical data — similar to mechanisms proposed for TB-500 peptide recovery in regenerative studies.

Further studies using diabetic animal models have found that oxytocin treatment was associated with decreased fat mass and enhanced glucose regulation. Oxytocin-treated mice had lower insulin resistance and cardiac function compared to control groups. These findings were associated with decreased tissue damage, with minimized hypertrophy, fibrosis, and cell death — similar to the effects seen with BPC-157 tissue repair. These findings are promising but from an animal studies point of view and need further research to determine clinical relevance to human conditions.

Oxytocin and Its Possible Role in Metabolic Control

Several studies indicate that oxytocin plays a role in glucose and fat metabolism in the body. In animal models, oxytocin has been associated with increased insulin sensitivity and increased glucose transport in muscles. It has also been associated with reduced body fat and improved lipid profiles.

We should mention that oxytocin deficiency has also been linked to metabolic alterations—during eating or working out—suggesting involvement of the peptide in energy balance regulation and homeostasis.

In obese and lean mice test, the oxytocin has been revealed to have a differential effect on metabolic markers according to body composition. There was no alteration in the lean mice but alteration in glucose and actually insulin control in obese mice, so its effect would be more with some metabolic conditions. 

Further research, including small-scale human clinical trials, has explored how oxytocin affects metabolism in diabetic patients. In a trial, intranasal oxytocin was associated with lower glucose and insulin concentrations, and with minimal weight changes within an eight-week follow-up. The authors further determined that circulating levels of blood oxytocin were lower in type 2 diabetes patients than in non-diabetic controls.

These levels were also inversely correlated with markers such as hemoglobin A1C and insulin resistance, raising the interest in oxytocin's role in metabolic status. Although these observations are promising, they remain not conclusive and would have to be investigated further.

Oxytocin and Cognition

Early maternal separation was shown to affect cognitive and behavioral development later in life in animals. Evidence suggests that the effects are caused by changes in oxytocin signaling, which facilitates neural development and social bonding. In one experimental study, mice that were deprived of maternal care had hormonal changes, which were partially reversed when they received oxytocin. 

The mice had hormonal changes concerning brain development in the prefrontal cortex. Although no overall group differences were found in behavior in the experiment, there was a tendency for the oxytocin-treated group to do slightly better cognitively. There have been other experiments that have challenged similar effects, such as using intranasal oxytocin in stressed mice. In those experiments, potential improvements in learning were not statistically significant.

Oxytocin and Anxiety

Recent research has explored whether oxytocin plays a role in mood regulation during depression and anxiety. There might be a link between social anxiety or early attachment disturbance and genetic variation in the oxytocin receptor. In one observational study, socially anxious individuals had epigenetic changes of the oxytocin receptor that the authors speculated were an adaptation to chronically low levels of oxytocin. These results suggested that lower oxytocin signaling can be linked with symptoms of social anxiety in some individuals.

In more severe cases, such as borderline personality disorder (BPD), a disorder with interpersonal disturbances, heightened suspiciousness, and emotional dysregulation, interest has likewise been forthcoming about oxytocin's potential role. Preliminary research has looked at the administration of intranasal oxytocin in BPD patients and noted changes in some types of behavior.

Oxytocin and Hunger

There has also been a development of studies investigating the role of oxytocin in modulating hunger. A genetic illness called Prader-Willi syndrome, characterized by hyperphagia and impaired satiety, has served as a model for researchers to follow when researching this connection. 

In some study, the fact was stated that disruption of regular oxytocin signaling can take place in afflicted individuals. The initial results indicate that oxytocin can be involved in hunger signals and feeding. Although this is an expanding area of research, it has prompted further investigation whether oxytocin can control hunger and balance energy. 

How Long Does Oxytocin Last?

Immediate-release oxycodone typically provides relief for about 4 to 6 hours, though some may experience its effects for a longer period. On the other hand, extended-release formulations are designed to work for up to 12 hours.

References:

• National Center for Biotechnology Information. "PubChem Compound Summary for CID 439302, Oxytocin" PubChem
• Cochran, D. M., Fallon, D., Hill, M., & Frazier, J. A. (2013). The role of oxytocin in psychiatric disorders: a review of biological and therapeutic research findings. Harvard review of psychiatry, 21(5), 219–247. https://doi.org/10.1097/HRP.0b013e3182a75b7d
• Bakos, Jan et al. “Molecular Mechanisms of Oxytocin Signaling at the Synaptic Connection.” Neural plasticity vol. 2018 4864107. 2 Jul. 2018, doi:10.1155/2018/4864107
• Osilla EV, Sharma S. Oxytocin. [Updated 2021 Jul 27]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507848/
• Changal N, AlRasheed W, Khandekar R. Ocularists the less known mid eye care professionals and their contribution in eye health care. Saudi J Ophthalmol. 2021 Feb 27;34(3):195-197. doi: 10.4103/1319-4534.310403. PMID: 34085013; PMCID: PMC8081081.
• Ding C, Leow MK, Magkos F. Oxytocin in metabolic homeostasis: implications for obesity and diabetes management. Obes Rev. 2019 Jan;20(1):22-40. doi: 10.1111/obr.12757. Epub 2018 Sep 25. PMID: 30253045; PMCID: PMC7888317.
• Elabd C, Cousin W, Upadhyayula P, Chen RY, Chooljian MS, Li J, Kung S, Jiang KP, Conboy IM. Oxytocin is an age-specific circulating hormone that is necessary for muscle maintenance and regeneration. Nat Commun. 2014 Jun 10;5:4082. doi: 10.1038/ncomms5082. PMID: 24915299; PMCID: PMC4512838.