Alcohol does not influence trust in others or oxytocin, but increases positive affect and risk-taking: a randomized, controlled, within-subject trial.

Wenger LP, Hamm O, Mühle C, Hoffmann S, Reinhard I, Bach P, Kornhuber J, Alpers GW, Kiefer F, Leménager T, Lenz B

European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience14 Sept 2023Cited by 3 (Europe PMC)

PMID37707566PMCIDPMC10914917DOI10.1007/s00406-023-01676-wPepBankPUB-37707566

Summary

BackgroundAlcohol consumption to facilitate social interaction is an important drinking motive. Here, we tested whether alcohol influences trust in others via modulation of oxytocin and/or androgens. We also aimed at confirming previously shown alcohol effects on positive affect and risk-taking, because of their role in facilitating social interaction.MethodsThis randomized, controlled, within-subject, parallel group, alcohol-challenge experiment investigated the effects of alcohol (versus water, both mixed with orange juice) on perceived trustworthiness via salivary oxytocin (primary and secondary endpoint) as well as testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, positive affect, and risk-taking (additional endpoints). We compared 56 male participants in the alcohol condition (1.07 ± 0.18 per mille blood alcohol concentration) with 20 in the control condition.ResultsThe group (alcohol versus control condition) × time (before [versus during] versus after drinking) interactions were not significantly associated with perceived trustworthiness (η² 2 = 0.003). Bayes factors provided also substantial evidence for the absence of these effects (BF₀₁ = 3.65; BF₀₁ = 7.53). The group × time interactions were related to dihydrotestosterone (η² = 0.018 with an increase in the control condition) as well as positive affect and risk-taking (η² = 0.027 and 0.007 with increases in the alcohol condition), but not significantly to testosterone.DiscussionThe results do not verify alcohol effects on perceived trustworthiness or oxytocin in male individuals. However, they indicate that alcohol (versus control) might inhibit an increase in dihydrotestosterone and confirm that alcohol amplifies positive affect and risk-taking. This provides novel mechanistic insight into social facilitation as an alcohol-drinking motive.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study1

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

Natural levels measured1

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.

01HumanEndogenous levelRandomized controlled trialMechanism
In male participants, alcohol did not change salivary oxytocin compared with a water control, and Bayes factors supported no effect.
In plain wordsIn men, drinking alcohol did not change the body's own oxytocin in saliva compared with drinking water.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeSalivary oxytocin, group by time interaction
Study
n = 76
Comparator
Water with orange juice
Analysis
Primary
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Endocrine and hormones
Measurements
eta squared
0.003 none
group x time interaction, oxytocin
BF01
7.53 none
oxytocin
Source sentences
Summary
The group (alcohol versus control condition) × time (before [versus during] versus after drinking) interactions were not significantly associated with perceived trustworthiness (η² 2 = 0.003). Bayes factors provided also substantial evidence for the absence of these effects (BF₀₁ = 3.65; BF₀₁ = 7.53).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This randomized, controlled, within-subject, parallel group, alcohol-challenge experiment investigated the effects of alcohol (versus water, both mixed with orange juice) on perceived trustworthiness via salivary oxytocin (primary and secondary endpoint) as well as testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, positive affect, and risk-taking (additional endpoints).
Summary · context
We compared 56 male participants in the alcohol condition (1.07 ± 0.18 per mille blood alcohol concentration) with 20 in the control condition.
This result measures the body's own Oxytocin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3770756601

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.

Version 2Current
11 Oct 2026, 00:50 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 02:48 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.