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Study · Systematic review · 2021

11 results

Effects of intranasal oxytocin in food intake and craving: A meta-analysis of clinical trials.

Chen CY, Chiang YC, Kuo TC, Tam KW, Loh EW

Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland)24 Aug 2021Cited by 17 (Europe PMC)

PMID34600216 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1016/j.clnu.2021.08.011 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-34600216
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 study11

11 results from studies that gave the peptide. 11 results from people.

  1. 01HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome

    In a meta-analysis of controlled trials, single-dose intranasal oxytocin lowered food intake in non-psychiatric subjects.

    In plain wordsIn a pooled analysis of trials, one dose of oxytocin nasal spray reduced how much people without psychiatric disorders ate.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseFood intake in non-psychiatric subjects
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Appetite and food intake · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    single dose · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    SMD
    −0.66 SMD
    non-psychiatric subjects

    Source sentences

    Summary
    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])
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    This study examined 12 trials with 266 non-psychiatric and 157 psychiatric participants.
  2. 02HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome

    In a meta-analysis of controlled trials, single-dose intranasal oxytocin did not change food intake in people with anorexia nervosa.

    In plain wordsIn a pooled analysis of trials, one dose of oxytocin nasal spray did not change food intake in people with anorexia nervosa.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeFood intake in anorexia nervosa
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Appetite and food intake · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    single dose · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    SMD
    0.17 SMD
    anorexia nervosa

    Source sentences

    Summary
    but no effects was found in anorexia nervosa (AN) (SMD: 0.17 [95% CI: -0.32, 0.66])
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    This study examined 12 trials with 266 non-psychiatric and 157 psychiatric participants.
  3. 03HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome

    In a meta-analysis of controlled trials, single-dose intranasal oxytocin did not change food intake in people with bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder.

    In plain wordsIn a pooled analysis of trials, one dose of oxytocin nasal spray did not change food intake in people with bulimia or binge eating disorder.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeFood intake in bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Appetite and food intake · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    single dose · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    SMD
    −0.41 SMD
    BN and BED

    Source sentences

    Summary
    bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (BED) (SMD: -0.41 [95% CI: -0.94, 0.11])
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    This study examined 12 trials with 266 non-psychiatric and 157 psychiatric participants.
  4. 04HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome

    In a meta-analysis of controlled trials, single-dose intranasal oxytocin did not change food intake in people with schizophrenia.

    In plain wordsIn a pooled analysis of trials, one dose of oxytocin nasal spray did not change food intake in people with schizophrenia.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeFood intake in schizophrenia
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Appetite and food intake · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    single dose · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    SMD
    0.04 SMD
    schizophrenia

    Source sentences

    Summary
    and schizophrenia (SMD: 0.04 [95% CI: -0.94, 1.02] subjects.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    This study examined 12 trials with 266 non-psychiatric and 157 psychiatric participants.
  5. 05HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome

    In non-psychiatric subjects, intranasal oxytocin inhibited consumption of leisure food (chocolate biscuits).

    In plain wordsIn people without psychiatric disorders, oxytocin nasal spray was linked to eating fewer chocolate biscuits in the pooled trials.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseChocolate biscuit consumption in non-psychiatric subjects
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Appetite and food intake · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Further analysis on leisure food also indicated an inhibition of consumption of chocolate biscuits in non-psychiatric subjects.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    This study examined 12 trials with 266 non-psychiatric and 157 psychiatric participants.
  6. 06HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome

    In non-psychiatric subjects, intranasal oxytocin did not change food craving or hunger compared with placebo.

    In plain wordsIn people without psychiatric disorders, oxytocin nasal spray did not change food craving or hunger compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeFood craving or hunger in non-psychiatric subjects
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Appetite and food intake · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    SMD
    −0.08 SMD
    non-psychiatric subjects

    Source sentences

    Summary
    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.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    This study examined 12 trials with 266 non-psychiatric and 157 psychiatric participants.
  7. 07HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome

    In people with bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder, intranasal oxytocin did not change food craving or hunger compared with placebo.

    In plain wordsIn people with bulimia or binge eating disorder, oxytocin nasal spray did not change food craving or hunger compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeFood craving or hunger in bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Appetite and food intake · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    SMD
    −0.08 SMD
    BN and BED

    Source sentences

    Summary
    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.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    This study examined 12 trials with 266 non-psychiatric and 157 psychiatric participants.
  8. 08HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome

    In people with schizophrenia, intranasal oxytocin did not change food craving or hunger compared with placebo.

    In plain wordsIn people with schizophrenia, oxytocin nasal spray did not change food craving or hunger compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeFood craving or hunger in schizophrenia
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Appetite and food intake · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    SMD
    −0.07 SMD
    schizophrenia

    Source sentences

    Summary
    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.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    This study examined 12 trials with 266 non-psychiatric and 157 psychiatric participants.
  9. 09HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome

    In non-psychiatric subjects, intranasal oxytocin did not change anxiety or stress level.

    In plain wordsIn people without psychiatric disorders, oxytocin nasal spray did not change anxiety or stress level in the pooled trials.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeAnxiety or stress level in non-psychiatric subjects
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    SMD
    0.19 SMD
    non-psychiatric subjects

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Anxiety or stress level was not influenced by INOT in any subgroup (non-psychiatric, SMD: 0.19 [95% CI: -0.22, 0.60]
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    This study examined 12 trials with 266 non-psychiatric and 157 psychiatric participants.
  10. 10HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome

    In people with anorexia nervosa, intranasal oxytocin did not change anxiety or stress level.

    In plain wordsIn people with anorexia nervosa, oxytocin nasal spray did not change anxiety or stress level in the pooled trials.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeAnxiety or stress level in anorexia nervosa
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    SMD
    −0.01 SMD
    anorexia nervosa

    Source sentences

    Summary
    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]).
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    This study examined 12 trials with 266 non-psychiatric and 157 psychiatric participants.
  11. 11HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome

    In people with bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder, intranasal oxytocin did not change anxiety or stress level.

    In plain wordsIn people with bulimia or binge eating disorder, oxytocin nasal spray did not change anxiety or stress level in the pooled trials.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeAnxiety or stress level in bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    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]).
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    This study examined 12 trials with 266 non-psychiatric and 157 psychiatric participants.

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, 00:50 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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