The effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and oxytocin on food craving and weight control in obese individuals with food addiction: a double-blind clinical trial.

Mehranpour A, Eskandari Z, Hejazi J, Gazori T, Saboory E

The International journal of neuroscience15 Jul 2025Cited by 1 (Europe PMC)

PMID40544477DOI10.1080/00207454.2025.2523323PepBankPUB-40544477

Publisher page PubMedAsk about this study

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 study4

3 results from studies that gave the peptide. 3 results from people.

01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In obese individuals with food addiction, oxytocin nasal spray for 15 days was reported to significantly improve weight control; the abstract does not state the comparator for this result.
In plain wordsIn obese people with food addiction, oxytocin nasal spray improved weight control after 15 days. The comparison is not stated.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreaseWeight control with oxytocin nasal spray
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasal · 15 daysAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
All three experimental interventions significantly improved weight control and food craving symptoms.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Participants were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to four groups (19 participants each).
Summary · context
Oxytocin nasal spray, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), combined oxytocin & tDCS, and sham groups treated for 15 days.
Report a problemFND-4054447701
02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In obese individuals with food addiction, oxytocin nasal spray for 15 days was reported to significantly improve food craving symptoms; the abstract does not state the comparator for this result.
In plain wordsIn obese people with food addiction, oxytocin nasal spray improved food craving after 15 days. The comparison is not stated.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreaseFood craving symptoms with oxytocin nasal spray
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Appetite and food intake · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasal · 15 daysAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
All three experimental interventions significantly improved weight control and food craving symptoms.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Participants were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to four groups (19 participants each).
Summary · context
Oxytocin nasal spray, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), combined oxytocin & tDCS, and sham groups treated for 15 days.
Report a problemFND-4054447702
03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
There was no significant difference between the mean scores of the oxytocin group and the tDCS group.
In plain wordsOxytocin nasal spray and brain stimulation (tDCS) gave similar results for weight control and food craving.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeWeight control and food craving, oxytocin versus tDCS
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
tDCS
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasal · 15 daysAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
No significant difference was observed between the mean scores of the tDCS and oxytocin groups.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Participants were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to four groups (19 participants each).
Summary · context
Oxytocin nasal spray, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), combined oxytocin & tDCS, and sham groups treated for 15 days.
Report a problemFND-4054447703

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.

04HumanNot a test of Oxytocin aloneRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
The combined tDCS and oxytocin group differed significantly from the other three groups; the contrast is pooled and does not isolate oxytocin.
In plain wordsCombined brain stimulation and oxytocin differed from the other three groups. This result is not about oxytocin alone.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
Direction not reportedWeight control and food craving, combined tDCS and oxytocin
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Oxytocin, tDCS and sham groups pooled
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Source sentences
Summary
However, the combined tDCS and oxytocin group demonstrated significant differences compared to the other three groups.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Participants were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to four groups (19 participants each).
Summary · context
Oxytocin nasal spray, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), combined oxytocin & tDCS, and sham groups treated for 15 days.
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.
Report a problemFND-4054447704

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, 02:47 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.