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Iovino M, Messana T, Marucci S, Triggiani D, Giagulli VA, Guastamacchia E, Piazzolla G, De Pergola G, Lisco G, Triggiani V. The neurohypophyseal hormone oxytocin and eating behaviors: a narrative review. Hormones (Athens) 2024; 23:15-23. [PMID: 37979096 PMCID: PMC10847364 DOI: 10.1007/s42000-023-00505-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) is crucial in several conditions, such as lactation, parturition, mother-infant interaction, and psychosocial function. Moreover, OT may be involved in the regulation of eating behaviors. METHODS This review briefly summarizes data concerning the role of OT in eating behaviors. Appropriate keywords and medical subject headings were identified and searched for in PubMed/MEDLINE. References of original articles and reviews were screened, examined, and selected. RESULTS Hypothalamic OT-secreting neurons project to different cerebral areas controlling eating behaviors, such as the amygdala, area postrema, nucleus of the solitary tract, and dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve. Intracerebral/ventricular OT administration decreases food intake and body weight in wild and genetically obese rats. OT may alter food intake and the quality of meals, especially carbohydrates and sweets, in humans. DISCUSSION OT may play a role in the pathophysiology of eating disorders with potential therapeutic perspectives. In obese patients and those with certain eating disorders, such as bulimia nervosa or binge/compulsive eating, OT may reduce appetite and caloric consumption. Conversely, OT administered to patients with anorexia nervosa may paradoxically stimulate appetite, possibly by lowering anxiety which usually complicates the management of these patients. Nevertheless, OT administration (e.g., intranasal route) is not always associated with clinical benefit, probably because intranasally administered OT fails to achieve therapeutic intracerebral levels of the hormone. CONCLUSION OT administration could play a therapeutic role in managing eating disorders and disordered eating. However, specific studies are needed to clarify this issue with regard to dose-finding and route and administration time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Iovino
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", School of Medicine, Bari, Apulia, Italy
| | - Tullio Messana
- Infantile Neuropsychiatry, IRCCS - Institute of Neurological Sciences, Bologna, Italy
| | - Simonetta Marucci
- Università Campus Biomedico, Dip. "Scienze e Tecnologie per l'Uomo e l'ambiente", Via Alvaro del Portillo, 21, Roma, Italy
| | - Domenico Triggiani
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", School of Medicine, Bari, Apulia, Italy
| | - Vito Angelo Giagulli
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", School of Medicine, Bari, Apulia, Italy
| | - Edoardo Guastamacchia
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", School of Medicine, Bari, Apulia, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Piazzolla
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", School of Medicine, Bari, Apulia, Italy
| | - Giovanni De Pergola
- National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS "Saverio de Bellis", Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, University of Bari, School of Medicine, Bari, Apulia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lisco
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", School of Medicine, Bari, Apulia, Italy.
| | - Vincenzo Triggiani
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", School of Medicine, Bari, Apulia, Italy
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Marazziti D, Diep PT, Carter S, Carbone MG. Oxytocin: An Old Hormone, A Novel Psychotropic Drug And Possible Use In Treating Psychiatric Disorders. Curr Med Chem 2022; 29:5615-5687. [PMID: 35894453 DOI: 10.2174/0929867329666220727120646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oxytocin is a nonapeptide synthesized in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus. Historically, this molecule has been involved as a key factor in the formation of infant attachment, maternal behavior and pair bonding and, more generally, in linking social signals with cognition, behaviors and reward. In the last decades, the whole oxytocin system has gained a growing interest as it was proposed to be implicated in etiopathogenesis of several neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. METHODS With the main goal of an in-depth understanding of the oxytocin role in the regulation of different functions and complex behaviors as well as its intriguing implications in different neuropsychiatric disorders, we performed a critical review of the current state of art. We carried out this work through PubMed database up to June 2021 with the search terms: 1) "oxytocin and neuropsychiatric disorders"; 2) "oxytocin and neurodevelopmental disorders"; 3) "oxytocin and anorexia"; 4) "oxytocin and eating disorders"; 5) "oxytocin and obsessive-compulsive disorder"; 6) "oxytocin and schizophrenia"; 7) "oxytocin and depression"; 8) "oxytocin and bipolar disorder"; 9) "oxytocin and psychosis"; 10) "oxytocin and anxiety"; 11) "oxytocin and personality disorder"; 12) "oxytocin and PTSD". RESULTS Biological, genetic, and epigenetic studies highlighted quality and quantity modifications in the expression of oxytocin peptide or in oxytocin receptor isoforms. These alterations would seem to be correlated with a higher risk of presenting several neuropsychiatric disorders belonging to different psychopathological spectra. Collaterally, the exogenous oxytocin administration has shown to ameliorate many neuropsychiatric clinical conditions. CONCLUSION Finally, we briefly analyzed the potential pharmacological use of oxytocin in patient with severe symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and immunoregulatory properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Marazziti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Italy.,Saint Camillus International University of Health and Medical Sciences, Rome, Italy
| | - Phuoc-Tan Diep
- Department of Histopathology, Royal Lancaster Infirmary, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - Sue Carter
- Director Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Manuel G Carbone
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Division of Psychiatry, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
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Goh KK, Chen CYA, Wu TH, Chen CH, Lu ML. Crosstalk between Schizophrenia and Metabolic Syndrome: The Role of Oxytocinergic Dysfunction. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23137092. [PMID: 35806096 PMCID: PMC9266532 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23137092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The high prevalence of metabolic syndrome in persons with schizophrenia has spurred investigational efforts to study the mechanism beneath its pathophysiology. Early psychosis dysfunction is present across multiple organ systems. On this account, schizophrenia may be a multisystem disorder in which one organ system is predominantly affected and where other organ systems are also concurrently involved. Growing evidence of the overlapping neurobiological profiles of metabolic risk factors and psychiatric symptoms, such as an association with cognitive dysfunction, altered autonomic nervous system regulation, desynchrony in the resting-state default mode network, and shared genetic liability, suggest that metabolic syndrome and schizophrenia are connected via common pathways that are central to schizophrenia pathogenesis, which may be underpinned by oxytocin system dysfunction. Oxytocin, a hormone that involves in the mechanisms of food intake and metabolic homeostasis, may partly explain this piece of the puzzle in the mechanism underlying this association. Given its prosocial and anorexigenic properties, oxytocin has been administered intranasally to investigate its therapeutic potential in schizophrenia and obesity. Although the pathophysiology and mechanisms of oxytocinergic dysfunction in metabolic syndrome and schizophrenia are both complex and it is still too early to draw a conclusion upon, oxytocinergic dysfunction may yield a new mechanistic insight into schizophrenia pathogenesis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kah Kheng Goh
- Department of Psychiatry, Wan-Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 116, Taiwan; (K.K.G.); (C.Y.-A.C.); (C.-H.C.)
- Psychiatric Research Center, Wan-Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 116, Taiwan;
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
| | - Cynthia Yi-An Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Wan-Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 116, Taiwan; (K.K.G.); (C.Y.-A.C.); (C.-H.C.)
- Psychiatric Research Center, Wan-Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 116, Taiwan;
| | - Tzu-Hua Wu
- Psychiatric Research Center, Wan-Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 116, Taiwan;
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Hsin Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Wan-Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 116, Taiwan; (K.K.G.); (C.Y.-A.C.); (C.-H.C.)
- Psychiatric Research Center, Wan-Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 116, Taiwan;
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
| | - Mong-Liang Lu
- Department of Psychiatry, Wan-Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 116, Taiwan; (K.K.G.); (C.Y.-A.C.); (C.-H.C.)
- Psychiatric Research Center, Wan-Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 116, Taiwan;
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
- Correspondence:
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Chen CY, Chiang YC, Kuo TC, Tam KW, Loh EW. Effects of intranasal oxytocin in food intake and craving: A meta-analysis of clinical trials. Clin Nutr 2021; 40:5407-5416. [PMID: 34600216 DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2021.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A rise of endogenous oxytocin (OT) is associated with anxiety and meal size reduction, and the effects of intranasal OT (INOT) have been examined in the management of food intake and craving. However, the discrepancy INOT effects in different disease populations are not entirely clear. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Updated systematic review and meta-analysis. By systematically searching the PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library, we obtained 12 controlled trials. We performed meta-analyses to examine food intake, craving, anxiety or stress reduction on INOT administration, using standard mean difference (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) and a random-effects model. RESULTS This study examined 12 trials with 266 non-psychiatric and 157 psychiatric participants. The pooled results showed that single-dose INOT induced a significant lesser food intake in non-psychiatric subjects (SMD: -0.66 [95% CI: -1.18, -0.14]), but no effects was found in anorexia nervosa (AN) (SMD: 0.17 [95% CI: -0.32, 0.66]), bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (BED) (SMD: -0.41 [95% CI: -0.94, 0.11]), and schizophrenia (SMD: 0.04 [95% CI: -0.94, 1.02] subjects. Further analysis on leisure food also indicated an inhibition of consumption of chocolate biscuits in non-psychiatric subjects. Neither the non-psychiatric (SMD: -0.08 [95% CI: -0.50, 0.33]) nor the BN and BED (SMD: -0.08 [95% CI: -0.72, 0.88]) and schizophrenia subjects (SMD: -0.07 [95% CI: -1.05, 0.91]) demonstrated a difference in food craving or hunger compared with placebo. Anxiety or stress level was not influenced by INOT in any subgroup (non-psychiatric, SMD: 0.19 [95% CI: -0.22, 0.60]; AN, SMD: -0.01 [95% CI: -0.28, 0.88]; BN and BED: SMD: 0.00 [95% CI: -0.80, 0.80]). CONCLUSIONS Single-dose INOT significantly reduces food intake in nonpsychiatric subjects, and further studies are necessary to assess the long-term effects and safety in obese patients. Whether INOT could be a treatment option for patients with eating disorders remains to be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Ying Chen
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chen Chiang
- Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Medical University Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Tai-Chih Kuo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ka-Wai Tam
- Center for Evidence-Based Health Care, Taipei Medical University Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Medical University Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Cochrane Taiwan, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - El-Wui Loh
- Center for Evidence-Based Health Care, Taipei Medical University Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Cochrane Taiwan, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Dentistry, Taipei Medical University Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
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Tolomeo S, Chiao B, Lei Z, Chew SH, Ebstein RP. A Novel Role of CD38 and Oxytocin as Tandem Molecular Moderators of Human Social Behavior. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 115:251-272. [PMID: 32360414 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Oxytocin is an important modulator of human affiliative behaviors, including social skills, human pair bonding, and friendship. CD38 will be discussed as an immune marker and then in more detail the mechanisms of CD38 on releasing brain oxytocin. Mention is made of the paralogue of oxytocin, vasopressin, that has often overlapping and complementary functions with oxytocin on social behavior. Curiously, vasopressin does not require CD38 to be released from the brain. This review discusses the social salience hypothesis of oxytocin action, a novel view of how this molecule influences much of human social behaviors often in contradictory ways. The oxytocinergic-vasopressinergic systems are crucial modulators of broad aspects of human personality. Of special interest are studies of these two hormones in trust related behavior observed using behavioral economic games. This review also covers the role of oxytocin in parenting and parental attachment. In conclusion, the effects of oxytocin on human behavior depend on the individual's social context and importantly as well, the individual's cultural milieu, viz. East and West. ACRONYMS: ACC = Anterior Cingulate ADP = Adenosine diphosphate AQ = Autism Quotient cADPR = Cyclic ADP-ribose CNS = Central nervous system DA = Dopamine eQTLC = Expression Quantitative Trait Loci LC-NE = Locus Coeruleus-Norepinephrine MRI = Magnetic Resonance Imaging OFC = Orbitofrontal cortices OXT = Oxytocin RAGE = Receptor for advanced glycation end-products SARM1 = Sterile Alpha and toll/interleukin-1 receptor motif-containing 1 TRPM2= Transient Receptor Potential Cation Channel Subfamily M Member 2 AVP = Vasopressin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serenella Tolomeo
- Department of Psychology, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Benjamin Chiao
- CCBEF (China Center for Behavior Economics and Finance) & SOE (School of Economics), Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, China; PSB Paris School of Business, Paris, France
| | - Zhen Lei
- CCBEF (China Center for Behavior Economics and Finance) & SOE (School of Economics), Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, China
| | - Soo Hong Chew
- CCBEF (China Center for Behavior Economics and Finance) & SOE (School of Economics), Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, China.
| | - Richard P Ebstein
- CCBEF (China Center for Behavior Economics and Finance) & SOE (School of Economics), Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, China.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The neurohypophysial endocrine system is identified here as a potential target for therapeutic interventions toward improving obesity-related metabolic dysfunction, given its coinciding pleiotropic effects on psychological, neurological and metabolic systems that are disrupted in obesity. RECENT FINDINGS Copeptin, the C-terminal portion of the precursor of arginine-vasopressin, is positively associated with body mass index and risk of type 2 diabetes. Plasma oxytocin is decreased in obesity and several other conditions of abnormal glucose homeostasis. Recent data also show non-classical tissues, such as myocytes, hepatocytes and β-cells, exhibit responses to oxytocin and vasopressin receptor binding that may contribute to alterations in metabolic function. The modulation of anorexigenic and orexigenic pathways appears to be the dominant mechanism underlying the effects of oxytocin and vasopressin on body weight regulation; however, there are apparent limitations associated with their use in direct pharmacological applications. A clearer picture of their wider physiological effects is needed before either system can be considered for therapeutic use.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Faidon Magkos
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports-Section of Obesity Research, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 26, 1958 Frederiksberg C; Building 2-85, Room H134, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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