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Study · Randomized controlled trial · n = 11 · 2026

5 results

Effects of intranasal oxytocin combined with resistance training on testosterone, cortisol, fatigue, and skin temperature in paralympic powerlifting athletes.

Mendonça TP, Aidar FJ, Badicu G, da Rosa Santos L, de Almeida Paz Â, Marçal AC, Orangi BM, Ulusoy A, de Souza RF, Brito CJ

European journal of applied physiology19 Feb 2026

PMID41711901 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1007/s00421-026-06163-3 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-41711901
Publisher pagePubMedAsk about this study
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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 study5

5 results from studies that gave the peptide. 5 results from people.

  1. 01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In Paralympic powerlifting athletes, cortisol fell acutely after a strength session under intranasal oxytocin; it also fell under placebo.

    In plain wordsIn Paralympic powerlifters, cortisol fell after training with oxytocin, and it also fell with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseCortisol change from pre to post session under oxytocin
    Study

    n = 11

    Outcome group
    Exercise and physical function · Endocrine and hormones
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Cortisol pre
    9.52 µg/dL
    oxytocin
    Cortisol post
    6.48 µg/dL
    oxytocin

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Under oxytocin, cortisol fell acutely (9.52 → 6.48 µg/dL; p = 0.002)
    3 context sentences
    Summary · context
    In the placebo condition, TT increased from post to 24 h (310.18 → 394.18 ng/dL; p = 0.024), while cortisol decreased from pre to post (10.07 → 6.72 µg/dL; p = 0.011).
    Summary · context
    Eleven athletes completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, performing a traditional strength session (5 × 5 at 80% 1RM).
    Summary · context
    Total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT), cortisol, dynamic strength at submaximal load (45% 1RM), and skin temperature (thermography) were assessed.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In Paralympic powerlifting athletes, cortisol under intranasal oxytocin partly recovered at 24 h after the session.

    In plain wordsIn Paralympic powerlifters, cortisol partly returned toward its earlier level 24 hours after training with oxytocin.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreaseCortisol at 24 h under oxytocin
    Study

    n = 11

    Outcome group
    Exercise and physical function · Endocrine and hormones
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Cortisol at 24 h
    8.73 µg/dL
    oxytocin

    Source sentences

    Summary
    with partial recovery at 24 h (8.73 µg/dL; p = 0.039).
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Eleven athletes completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, performing a traditional strength session (5 × 5 at 80% 1RM).
    Summary · context
    Total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT), cortisol, dynamic strength at submaximal load (45% 1RM), and skin temperature (thermography) were assessed.
  3. 03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In Paralympic powerlifting athletes, the TT/C ratio rose at 24 h only in the placebo condition, not under oxytocin.

    In plain wordsIn Paralympic powerlifters, the testosterone to cortisol ratio rose after 24 hours only with placebo, not with oxytocin.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeTestosterone to cortisol (TT/C) ratio at 24 h
    Study

    n = 11

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Exercise and physical function · Endocrine and hormones
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    The TT/C ratio rose only in placebo at 24 h (p = 0.046).
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Eleven athletes completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, performing a traditional strength session (5 × 5 at 80% 1RM).
    Summary · context
    Total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT), cortisol, dynamic strength at submaximal load (45% 1RM), and skin temperature (thermography) were assessed.
  4. 04HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In Paralympic powerlifting athletes, oxytocin preserved velocity and power at 45% 1RM.

    In plain wordsIn Paralympic powerlifters, oxytocin kept lifting speed and power at a light load from dropping.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeVelocity and power at 45% 1RM
    Study

    n = 11

    Outcome group
    Exercise and physical function · Musculoskeletal
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Oxytocin preserved velocity and power at 45% 1RM
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Eleven athletes completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, performing a traditional strength session (5 × 5 at 80% 1RM).
    Summary · context
    Total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT), cortisol, dynamic strength at submaximal load (45% 1RM), and skin temperature (thermography) were assessed.
  5. 05HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In Paralympic powerlifting athletes, oxytocin attenuated prolonged skin temperature elevations in key muscles.

    In plain wordsIn Paralympic powerlifters, oxytocin reduced long-lasting rises in skin temperature over key muscles.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseSkin temperature elevations in key muscles
    Study

    n = 11

    Outcome group
    Exercise and physical function · Musculoskeletal
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    attenuated prolonged skin temperature elevations in key muscles.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Eleven athletes completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, performing a traditional strength session (5 × 5 at 80% 1RM).
    Summary · context
    Total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT), cortisol, dynamic strength at submaximal load (45% 1RM), and skin temperature (thermography) were assessed.

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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