Associations of oxytocin with metabolic parameters in obese women of childbearing age

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare plasma oxytocin levels in obese women of childbearing age with non-obese women of childbearing age, and to investigate the relationship between plasma oxytocin levels and metabolic parameters (including blood glucose, insulin resistance, blood lipid, and blood pressure). Material and methods: A total of 151 obese women of childbearing age and 160 non-obese women of childbearing age were enrolled in this study. Plasma oxytocin levels were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassays. Height, body weight, body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FI), homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), total triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-C (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein-C (HDL-C), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured in all subjects. Quantile regression analysis was used to analyse the associations of plasma oxytocin levels with FBG, FI, HOMA-IR, TG, TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, SBP, and DBP. Results: In obese women of childbearing age, plasma oxytocin levels were lower compared with non-obese controls. After adjusting for age, quantile regression analysis showed that the plasma oxytocin levels were inversely associated with HOMA-IR at the quantile level between 0.27 and 0.79 (i.e. the HOMA-IR level of 2.11 and 3.07, respectively), the plasma oxytocin levels were inversely associated with TC after the quantile level of 0.21 (i.e. the TC level of 3.78), and the plasma oxytocin levels were inversely associated with LDL-C at all quantile levels of LDL-C. In addition, the plasma oxytocin levels showed a positive association with HDL-C at all quantile levels of HDL-C. No significant associations were found between the plasma oxytocin levels and FBG, FI, TG, SBP, and DBP. Conclusions: Oxytocin deficiency was common in obese women of childbearing age. Oxytocin showed negative correlation with HOMA-IR, TC, and LDL-C, while it showed positive association with HDL-C. Our findings suggest that oxytocin played an important role in inhibiting metabolic disorders associated with obesity in women of childbearing age.

The role of oxytocin in regulation of appetitive behaviour, body weight and glucose homeostasis

“…There is also evidence for higher peripheral OXT levels in individuals with excess energy stores, including overweight/obese women and men . However, in a number of studies of obese adults with a high prevalence of type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance and children with insulin resistance, OXT levels were low; this may be directly related to impaired glucose homeostasis as individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes have low OXT levels . Some studies in individuals with type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance and overweight/obesity have found that lower OXT levels are associated with increased features of metabolic syndrome .…”

“…However, in a number of studies of obese adults with a high prevalence of type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance and children with insulin resistance, OXT levels were low; this may be directly related to impaired glucose homeostasis as individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes have low OXT levels . Some studies in individuals with type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance and overweight/obesity have found that lower OXT levels are associated with increased features of metabolic syndrome . However, one study of older men (mean weight 80 kg) (a minority of whom had type 2 diabetes) found that higher OXT levels were associated with greater weight and metabolic syndrome, and another of men and women across a wide spectrum of weights with insulin resistance in those with obesity reported higher OXT levels were associated with greater body mass index and insulin resistance (homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance [HOMA‐IR]) .…”

The Effects of Oxytocin on Appetite Regulation, Food Intake and Metabolism in Humans

“…This study found lower oxytocin levels in women with food addiction compared to those without food addiction as well as a negative correlation between oxytocin levels and body weight [ 187 ]. Similarly, in a cohort of 311 women ages 18 to 45 years, those with obesity had lower oxytocin concentration compared with healthy-weight females [ 188 ]. The same study found that oxytocin levels were inversely associated with LDL-cholesterol and positively associated with HDL-cholesterol [ 188 ].…”

“…Similarly, in a cohort of 311 women ages 18 to 45 years, those with obesity had lower oxytocin concentration compared with healthy-weight females [ 188 ]. The same study found that oxytocin levels were inversely associated with LDL-cholesterol and positively associated with HDL-cholesterol [ 188 ]. The discrepancies between these studies limited to female participants could be related to different measurement techniques and lack of control for obesity-associated comorbidities which could have an effect on oxytocin levels (discussed subsequently).…”

Anxiety Amplifies Plasma Oxytocin Levels in Older Individuals with type 2 Diabetes. Findings from the Cross-Sectional KORA-Age Study.

“…Although these intervention studies showed bene cial effects of OXT on T2DM-related metabolic pro les, how T2DM may affect endogenous OXT levels is still poorly understood. While previous studies in young to middle-aged adults have found an association between lower OXT levels and T2DM [6][7][8][9][10][11], others have reported con icting ndings with higher levels of OXT in metabolic disorders [12][13][14]. Furthermore, most studies investigating the association between OXT and T2DM are small-sized and stem from sex-speci c young populations.…”