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Study · Randomized controlled trial · n = 134 · 2026

3 results

Oxytocin Effects on Food Stimulus Processing and Food Intake in Females With or Without Binge Eating Disorder.

Nannt J, van den Hoek Ostende MM, Tuschen-Caffier B, Heinrichs M, Sippel D, Hallschmid M, Svaldi J

The International journal of eating disorders23 Oct 2025Cited by 4 (Europe PMC)

PMID41131747 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC12884240 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1002/eat.24566 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-41131747
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Summary

ObjectiveBinge eating disorder (BED) is maintained by increased food-related incentive salience, which is reflected by an attentional bias for food. Oxytocin acutely attenuates this bias in patients with anorexia nervosa and reduces food intake in males with normal or increased body weight. However, results in individuals with BED have been inconclusive. We assessed the acute effect of oxytocin on food stimulus processing and reward-driven eating behavior in females with or without BED in a double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study.MethodFemales with BED (n = 48) and female control participants with overweight (n = 46) or normal weight (n = 40) received intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) and, respectively, placebo, after an overnight fast and a standardized breakfast. In participants with a natural menstrual cycle, sessions were scheduled during consecutive luteal phases. Participants completed a food-related dot-probe task with concurrent eye tracking and a bogus taste test measuring snack intake.ResultsOxytocin compared to placebo increased dwell time bias on food stimuli in the BED relative to the overweight control group, in which this effect was reversed. Contrary to our hypothesis, oxytocin increased calorie intake across groups. Exploratory analyses indicated that the latter effect focused on females taking hormonal contraception.DiscussionThese results indicate disorder- and, respectively, sex-specific effects of oxytocin on food-related incentive salience and food intake and point to a role of oxytocin in binge eating pathology. They moreover suggest that sex hormones determine the acute effect of oxytocin on eating behavior in females.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study3

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

  1. 01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In exploratory analyses, the increase in calorie intake with oxytocin focused on females taking hormonal contraception.

    In plain wordsIn extra analyses, the higher calorie intake with oxytocin was mostly seen in women using hormonal contraception.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreaseCalorie intake in females with hormonal contraception
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Analysis
    Exploratory
    Outcome group
    Appetite and food intake · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    24 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Exploratory analyses indicated that the latter effect focused on females taking hormonal contraception.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Females with BED (n = 48) and female control participants with overweight (n = 46) or normal weight (n = 40) received intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) and, respectively, placebo, after an overnight fast and a standardized breakfast.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    Intranasal oxytocin increased calorie intake across groups compared with placebo, contrary to the hypothesis.

    In plain wordsOxytocin spray made women eat more calories in a snack test than placebo did across all groups.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreaseCalorie intake in the bogus taste test
    Study

    n = 134

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

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Contrary to our hypothesis, oxytocin increased calorie intake across groups.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Females with BED (n = 48) and female control participants with overweight (n = 46) or normal weight (n = 40) received intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) and, respectively, placebo, after an overnight fast and a standardized breakfast.
  3. 03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In a cross-over trial, intranasal oxytocin compared with placebo increased dwell time bias on food stimuli in females with binge eating disorder relative to overweight controls, in whom the effect was reversed.

    In plain wordsIn women with binge eating disorder, oxytocin spray increased attention to food pictures compared with placebo; in overweight controls, the effect reversed.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    MixedDwell time bias on food stimuli
    Study

    n = 94

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Appetite and food intake · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    24 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Oxytocin compared to placebo increased dwell time bias on food stimuli in the BED relative to the overweight control group, in which this effect was reversed.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Females with BED (n = 48) and female control participants with overweight (n = 46) or normal weight (n = 40) received intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) and, respectively, placebo, after an overnight fast and a standardized breakfast.

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, 02:47 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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