Optimal dose of oxytocin to improve social impairments and repetitive behaviors in autism spectrum disorders: meta-analysis and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Zhang Y, Zhang X, Huang L

Frontiers in psychiatry29 Jan 2025Cited by 3 (Europe PMC)

PMID39944132PMCIDPMC11813649DOI10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1477076PepBankPUB-39944132

Summary

IntroductionSocial impairments and repetitive behaviors are at the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Intranasal administration of the neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) is a promising treatment. However, there have been inconsistencies in the effects of OXT on social impairments and repetitive behaviors.MethodsA comprehensive search in PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science was conducted to gather randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the efficacy of OXT in patients diagnosed with ASD up to 11/06/2024. The core outcomes were social impairments measured by total Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) scores and repetitive behaviors measured by the Repetitive Behavior Scale (RBS).ResultsThis meta-analysis ultimately included 12 RCTs with 498 ASD patients. In an initial analysis, intranasal OXT showed no significant effect on social impairments. For a high dose of 48 IU per day, a beneficial effect on social impairments was found. According to the dose-response meta-analysis, the results indicated that higher doses of OXT might be more effective for social impairments. Depending on repetitive behaviors, the overall analysis showed no significant effect, while the dose over 48 IU per day revealed significant results and the dose-response meta-analysis suggested that higher doses could be more effective for repetitive behaviors.DiscussionAlthough these findings show no consistent beneficial effects, the results of the dose-response meta-analysis suggest that high doses of intranasal OXT per day may be more effective in ASD.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero, identifier CRD42024567213.

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

Results from this study6

6 results from studies that gave the peptide. 6 results from people.

01HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In a meta-analysis of randomized trials in autism, intranasal oxytocin had no significant overall effect on social impairments.
In plain wordsIn a pooled analysis of trials in autism, oxytocin spray had no significant overall effect on social difficulties.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeSocial impairments (total SRS), overall analysis
Study
n = 498
Outcome group
Social behavior and cognition · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
In an initial analysis, intranasal OXT showed no significant effect on social impairments.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This meta-analysis ultimately included 12 RCTs with 498 ASD patients.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3994413201
02HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In a meta-analysis of randomized trials in autism, a high dose of 48 IU per day of intranasal oxytocin had a beneficial effect on social impairments.
In plain wordsIn a pooled analysis of autism trials, a high daily dose of oxytocin spray helped social difficulties.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreaseSocial impairments (total SRS) at high dose
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Social behavior and cognition · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
48 IU per day · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
For a high dose of 48 IU per day, a beneficial effect on social impairments was found.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This meta-analysis ultimately included 12 RCTs with 498 ASD patients.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3994413202
03HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
A dose-response meta-analysis indicated that higher doses of intranasal oxytocin might be more effective for social impairments in autism.
In plain wordsA pooled analysis of autism trials suggested that higher doses of oxytocin spray might work better for social difficulties.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreaseSocial impairments, dose-response analysis
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Social behavior and cognition · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
According to the dose-response meta-analysis, the results indicated that higher doses of OXT might be more effective for social impairments.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This meta-analysis ultimately included 12 RCTs with 498 ASD patients.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3994413203
04HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In a meta-analysis of randomized trials in autism, intranasal oxytocin had no significant overall effect on repetitive behaviors.
In plain wordsIn a pooled analysis of autism trials, oxytocin spray had no significant overall effect on repetitive behaviors.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeRepetitive behaviors (RBS), overall analysis
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Social behavior and cognition · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
the overall analysis showed no significant effect
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This meta-analysis ultimately included 12 RCTs with 498 ASD patients.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3994413204
05HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In a meta-analysis of randomized trials in autism, doses of intranasal oxytocin over 48 IU per day gave significant results on repetitive behaviors.
In plain wordsIn a pooled analysis of autism trials, high daily doses of oxytocin spray gave significant results on repetitive behaviors.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreaseRepetitive behaviors (RBS) at doses over 48 IU per day
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Social behavior and cognition · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
over 48 IU per day · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
the dose over 48 IU per day revealed significant results
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This meta-analysis ultimately included 12 RCTs with 498 ASD patients.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3994413205
06HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
A dose-response meta-analysis suggested that higher doses of intranasal oxytocin could be more effective for repetitive behaviors in autism.
In plain wordsA pooled analysis of autism trials suggested that higher doses of oxytocin spray could work better for repetitive behaviors.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreaseRepetitive behaviors, dose-response analysis
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Social behavior and cognition · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
the dose-response meta-analysis suggested that higher doses could be more effective for repetitive behaviors.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This meta-analysis ultimately included 12 RCTs with 498 ASD patients.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3994413206

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

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