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Study · Measured the body's own peptide · 2016

3 results

A meta-analytic review of the correlation between peripheral oxytocin and cortisol concentrations.

Brown CA, Cardoso C, Ellenbogen MA

Frontiers in neuroendocrinology1 Oct 2016Cited by 67 (Europe PMC)

PMID27836673 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1016/j.yfrne.2016.11.001 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-27836673
Publisher pagePubMedAsk about this study
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Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study3

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

Natural levels measured2

These results measure the body's own peptide. Nobody was given the peptide. They are not evidence about taking it. They are left out of key results, evidence counts and charts.

  1. 01HumanEndogenous levelSystematic reviewOther

    In a meta-analysis, baseline peripheral oxytocin concentrations correlated weakly and positively with cortisol concentrations, with high heterogeneity.

    In plain wordsThe body's own oxytocin levels were weakly and positively linked to cortisol levels at baseline across studies.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    Not applicableCorrelation between baseline oxytocin and cortisol
    Study

    n = 739

    Outcome group
    Stress hormones · Endocrine and hormones

    Measurements

    Pearson r
    0.163 r
    baseline oxytocin-cortisol
    I2
    67.88%
    heterogeneity

    Source sentences

    Summary
    The effect size for the baseline correlation statistic was small (Pearson r=0.163, p=0.008), with high heterogeneity (I2=67.88%).
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    We conducted a meta-analysis on the correlation between oxytocin and cortisol levels measured at baseline (k=24, N=739).

    This result measures the body's own Oxytocin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.

  2. 02HumanEndogenous levelSystematic reviewOther

    The positive correlation between peripheral oxytocin and cortisol was greater in studies where participants anticipated an experimental manipulation than in those that did not.

    In plain wordsThe link between the body's own oxytocin and cortisol was stronger when participants expected an experimental manipulation.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    Not applicableModeration of the correlation by anticipation of an experimental manipulation
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Studies without anticipation of an experimental manipulation
    Outcome group
    Stress hormones · Endocrine and hormones

    Measurements

    Pearson r
    0.318 r
    anticipated manipulation

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Moderation analysis revealed that studies where participants anticipated an experimental manipulation evidenced a greater positive correlation compared to those that did not (Pearson r=0.318, p=0.006).
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    We conducted a meta-analysis on the correlation between oxytocin and cortisol levels measured at baseline (k=24, N=739).

    This result measures the body's own Oxytocin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.

Studies that did not test the peptide alone1

In this study, Oxytocin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Oxytocin.

  1. 03HumanNot a test of Oxytocin aloneSystematic reviewOther

    In a supplementary analysis, oxytocin levels in unextracted samples were 60 times higher than in extracted samples.

    In plain wordsMeasured oxytocin levels were 60 times higher in unextracted samples than in extracted samples, so sample extraction matters for the method.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreaseOxytocin levels in unextracted versus extracted samples
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Extracted samples
    Outcome group
    Analytical methods and detection · Pharmacology

    Measurements

    Fold difference in oxytocin level
    60 times
    unextracted vs extracted samples

    Source sentences

    Summary
    A supplementary analysis including additional studies indicated that oxytocin levels in unextracted samples were 60 times higher when using this questionable practice.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    We conducted a meta-analysis on the correlation between oxytocin and cortisol levels measured at baseline (k=24, N=739).

    In this study, Oxytocin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Oxytocin.

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

    9 Oct 2026, 18:17 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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