Systematic review: pain, cognition, and cardioprotection-unpacking oxytocin's contributions in a sport context.

Szabó P, Bonet S, Hetényi R, Hanna D, Kovács Z, Prisztóka G, Križalkovičová Z, Szentpéteri J

Frontiers in physiology10 Jun 2024Cited by 8 (Europe PMC)

PMID38915776PMCIDPMC11194439DOI10.3389/fphys.2024.1393497PepBankPUB-38915776

Summary

IntroductionThis systematic review investigates the interplay between oxytocin and exercise; in terms of analgesic, anti-inflammatory, pro-regenerative, and cardioprotective effects. Furthermore, by analyzing measurement methods, we aim to improve measurement validity and reliability.MethodsUtilizing PRISMA, GRADE, and MECIR protocols, we examined five databases with a modified SPIDER search. Including studies on healthy participants, published within the last 20 years, based on keywords "oxytocin," "exercise" and "measurement," 690 studies were retrieved initially (455 unique records). After excluding studies of clinically identifiable diseases, and unpublished and reproduction-focused studies, 175 studies qualified for the narrative cross-thematic and structural analysis.ResultsThe analysis resulted in five categories showing the reciprocal impact of oxytocin and exercise: Exercise (50), Physiology (63), Environment (27), Social Context (65), and Stress (49). Exercise-induced oxytocin could promote tissue regeneration, with 32 studies showing its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, while 14 studies discussed memory and cognition. Furthermore, empathy-associated OXTR rs53576 polymorphism might influence team sports performance. Since dietary habits and substance abuse can impact oxytocin secretion too, combining self-report tests and repeated salivary measurements may help achieve precision.DiscussionOxytocin's effect on fear extinction and social cognition might generate strategies for mental training, and technical, and tactical development in sports. Exercise-induced oxytocin can affect the amount of stress experienced by athletes, and their response to it. However, oxytocin levels could depend on the type of sport in means of contact level, exercise intensity, and duration. The influence of oxytocin on athletes' performance and recovery could have been exploited due to its short half-life. Examining oxytocin's complex interactions with exercise paves the way for future research and application in sports science, psychology, and medical disciplines.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=512184, identifier CRD42024512184.

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

Results from this study2

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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 levelSystematic reviewMechanism
In a systematic review of healthy participants, 32 studies reported analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects linked to exercise-induced oxytocin.
In plain wordsA review of studies in healthy people found 32 studies linking the body's own oxytocin released by exercise to pain and inflammation relief.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
Not applicableAnalgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of exercise-induced oxytocin
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Pain · Whole body
Source sentences
Summary
Exercise-induced oxytocin could promote tissue regeneration, with 32 studies showing its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
After excluding studies of clinically identifiable diseases, and unpublished and reproduction-focused studies, 175 studies qualified for the narrative cross-thematic and structural analysis.
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-3891577601
02HumanEndogenous levelSystematic reviewMechanism
In a systematic review of healthy participants, 14 studies discussed memory and cognition in relation to exercise-induced oxytocin.
In plain wordsA review of studies in healthy people found 14 studies that discussed memory and thinking in relation to the body's own oxytocin released by exercise.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
Not applicableMemory and cognition studies of exercise-induced oxytocin
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
Source sentences
Summary
while 14 studies discussed memory and cognition
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
After excluding studies of clinically identifiable diseases, and unpublished and reproduction-focused studies, 175 studies qualified for the narrative cross-thematic and structural analysis.
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-3891577602

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Version 2Current
11 Oct 2026, 00:50 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 02:47 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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