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Study · Randomized controlled trial · 2013

7 results

Treatment of obesity and diabetes using oxytocin or analogs in patients and mouse models.

Zhang H, Wu C, Chen Q, Chen X, Xu Z, Wu J, Cai D

PloS one20 May 2013Cited by 177 (Europe PMC)

PMID23700406 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC3658979 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1371/journal.pone.0061477 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-23700406
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Summary

Obesity is important for the development of type-2 diabetes as a result of obesity-induced insulin resistance accompanied by impaired compensation of insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells. Here, based on a randomized pilot clinical trial, we report that intranasal oxytocin administration over an 8-week period led to effective reduction of obesity and reversal of related prediabetic changes in patients. Using mouse models, we further systematically evaluated whether oxytocin and its analogs yield therapeutic effects against prediabetic or diabetic disorders regardless of obesity. Our results showed that oxytocin and two analogs including [Ser4, Ile8]-oxytocin or [Asu1,6]-oxytocin worked in mice to reverse insulin resistance and glucose intolerance prior to reduction of obesity. In parallel, using streptozotocin-induced diabetic mouse model, we found that treatment with oxytocin or its analogs reduced the magnitude of glucose intolerance through improving insulin secretion. The anti-diabetic effects of oxytocin and its analogs in these animal models can be produced similarly whether central or peripheral administration was used. In conclusion, oxytocin and its analogs have multi-level effects in improving weight control, insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion, and bear potentials for being developed as therapeutic peptides for obesity and diabetes.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study7

7 results from studies that gave the peptide. 2 results from people.

  1. 01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In patients in a randomized pilot trial, 8 weeks of intranasal oxytocin led to effective reduction of obesity.

    In plain wordsIn patients in a small pilot trial, 8 weeks of oxytocin nasal spray reduced obesity.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseObesity reduction
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Body weight · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasal · 8 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Here, based on a randomized pilot clinical trial, we report that intranasal oxytocin administration over an 8-week period led to effective reduction of obesity and reversal of related prediabetic changes in patients.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In patients in a randomized pilot trial, 8 weeks of intranasal oxytocin reversed obesity-related prediabetic changes.

    In plain wordsIn patients in a small pilot trial, 8 weeks of oxytocin nasal spray reversed prediabetic changes.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreasePrediabetic changes
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Glycemic control · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasal · 8 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Here, based on a randomized pilot clinical trial, we report that intranasal oxytocin administration over an 8-week period led to effective reduction of obesity and reversal of related prediabetic changes in patients.
  3. 03AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In mice, oxytocin reversed insulin resistance before obesity was reduced.

    In plain wordsIn mice, oxytocin reversed insulin resistance before any loss of obesity.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseInsulin resistance
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Obesity-related prediabetic mouse models
    Outcome group
    Glycemic control · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Using mouse models, we further systematically evaluated whether oxytocin and its analogs yield therapeutic effects against prediabetic or diabetic disorders regardless of obesity.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Our results showed that oxytocin and two analogs including [Ser4, Ile8]-oxytocin or [Asu1,6]-oxytocin worked in mice to reverse insulin resistance and glucose intolerance prior to reduction of obesity.
  4. 04AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In mice, oxytocin reversed glucose intolerance before obesity was reduced.

    In plain wordsIn mice, oxytocin reversed glucose intolerance before any loss of obesity.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseGlucose intolerance
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Obesity-related prediabetic mouse models
    Outcome group
    Glycemic control · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Using mouse models, we further systematically evaluated whether oxytocin and its analogs yield therapeutic effects against prediabetic or diabetic disorders regardless of obesity.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Our results showed that oxytocin and two analogs including [Ser4, Ile8]-oxytocin or [Asu1,6]-oxytocin worked in mice to reverse insulin resistance and glucose intolerance prior to reduction of obesity.
  5. 05AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, oxytocin reduced the magnitude of glucose intolerance.

    In plain wordsIn diabetic mice, oxytocin reduced glucose intolerance.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseGlucose intolerance in streptozotocin diabetes
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Streptozotocin-induced diabetic mouse
    Outcome group
    Glycemic control · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    In parallel, using streptozotocin-induced diabetic mouse model, we found that treatment with oxytocin or its analogs reduced the magnitude of glucose intolerance through improving insulin secretion.
  6. 06AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism

    In streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, oxytocin reduced glucose intolerance by improving insulin secretion.

    In plain wordsIn diabetic mice, oxytocin improved insulin secretion.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreaseInsulin secretion in streptozotocin diabetes
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Streptozotocin-induced diabetic mouse
    Outcome group
    Glycemic control · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    In parallel, using streptozotocin-induced diabetic mouse model, we found that treatment with oxytocin or its analogs reduced the magnitude of glucose intolerance through improving insulin secretion.
  7. 07AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In mouse models, the anti-diabetic effects of oxytocin were produced similarly by central and peripheral administration.

    In plain wordsIn mice, oxytocin had similar anti-diabetic effects whether given centrally or peripherally.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeAnti-diabetic effect by central versus peripheral administration
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Mouse models of prediabetes and diabetes
    Outcome group
    Glycemic control · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    The anti-diabetic effects of oxytocin and its analogs in these animal models can be produced similarly whether central or peripheral administration was used.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 2Current

    11 Oct 2026, 01:30 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 02:49 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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