Photo: flickr
Oxytocin is a hormone produced in the brain that is then transported to the pituitary gland. It is often referred to as the "love hormone" for its role in sex, birth and breastfeeding. It is also important for controlling food intake and weight.
The researchers - led by Franziska Plessow, PhD, from Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston - presented their findings last weekend at the Endocrine Society's 98th annual meeting.
The researchers say the results showed that subjects had more control over their behavior and were acting less impulsively after receiving the oxytocin nasal spray.
These results suggest that oxytocin lowers food intake by improving self-control, says Plessow, who adds that "this information may allow us to move forward to large clinical trials, identify who can benefit from the drug and help optimize the treatment."
Category(s):Health / Illness / Medical Issues, Health Psychology
Source material from EurekAlert
