Intranasal Oxytocin for Obesity
Authors' conclusion
In this randomized, placebo-controlled trial in adults with obesity, intranasal oxytocin administered four times daily for 8 weeks did not reduce body weight.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with obesity; 54% women, mean age 33.6 ± 6.2 years, BMI 36.9 ± 4.9randomized 1:1
- Participants
- 61 adults
- Comparison
- Intranasal oxytocin vs placebo
- Primary endpoint
- Change in body weight (kg) from baseline
- Follow-up
- Week 8
Methodological detailsdouble-blind, placebo-controlled, stratified by sex and obesity class
- Double-blind
- Placebo-controlled
- Stratified by sex and obesity class
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Body weight change · baseline to week 8
Oxytocin
0.20
kg
Placebo
0.26
kg
P = 0.934
Secondary outcomes
| Outcome | Difference (g) (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Total fat mass change · baseline to week 8 | 196.0 (−1036 to 1428) | |
| −2000−1000010002000Difference, g (linear scale) |
| Outcome | Difference (cm²) (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Visceral fat change · baseline to week 8 | 3.1 (−11.0 to 17.2) | |
| −20−1001020Difference, cm² (linear scale) |
| Outcome | Difference (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Liver fat fraction change · baseline to week 8 | −0.01 (−0.03 to 0.01) | |
| −0.04−0.0200.02Difference (linear scale) |
| Outcome | Difference (kcal/day) (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Resting energy expenditure change (adjusted for lean mass) · baseline to week 8 | −64.0 (−129.3 to 1.4) | |
| −200−1000100Difference, kcal/day (linear scale) |
Kcal
| Outcome | Oxytocin | Placebo | Difference (kcal) (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caloric intake at test meal change · baseline to week 6 | −31.4 | 120.6 | −152.0 (−302.3 to −1.7) | |
| −400−2000200Difference, kcal (linear scale) |
Safety
- Serious adverse events
- 0
- Incidence and severity of adverse events did not differ between groups
Original publication
Intranasal Oxytocin for Obesity. NEJM Evid. Published 23 April 2024. doi:10.
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