Oxytocin is lower in African American men with diabetes and associates with psycho-social and metabolic health factors

Abstract

ObjectiveRecently, it has been suggested that oxytocin (OT) has a role in metabolism and neuropsychiatry health and disease, and therefore, it may represent a potential therapeutic target. The current study aimed to investigate relationships between OT and glycemic status along with psycho-social and behavioral factors. Design and methodsA total of 92 obese or overweight, African American, male subjects were enrolled in the study. Biometric and biochemical data were collected including oral glucose tolerance testing and urinary OT (measured by ELISA). Subjects also completed questionnaires on social and lifestyle factors. ResultsOT levels were found to be significantly lower in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) compared to normal glucose tolerance (p<0.05). When stratified by OT tertiles, subjects with higher OT had lower weight, body mass index (BMI) and hemoglobin A1c, but higher eGFR which remained significant after BMI adjustment. The highest OT tertile also had more smokers and more users of psychiatric medications. A stepwise ordered logistic regression supported these findings and could account for 21% of the variation in OT categories (pseudoR 2 = 0.21).

Application of Raman spectroscopy in comparative study of antiobesity influence of oxytocin and freeze‐dried extracts of Uvariodendron anisatum Verdeck (Annonaceae) in Sprague Dawley rats

“…In other murine studies, subjects administered OT exhibited increased levels of the hormone (i.e., OT) in serum and in plasma thus supporting our observation through the assigned Raman peak. Elsewhere, it was reported that OT levels in blood of obese human subjects having type II diabetes mellitus were significantly lower compared with healthy ones . The band around 478 cm −1 is associated with both fructose and glucose's skeletal vibrations with tentative assignments C─C─C, C─C─O, C─O deformations, and C─C torsional vibrations .…”

“…[17] In a study on African American males, the levels of OT in blood of type II diabetic males were found to be lower than in healthy ones. [18] In the same study, persons with higher levels of OT had lower body weights. All these findings indicate a special role OT plays in the treatment and prevention of obesity and diabetes.…”

“…The hormone is argued to make cells resistant to diabetic conditions and improve their insulin sensitivity . In a study on African American males, the levels of OT in blood of type II diabetic males were found to be lower than in healthy ones . In the same study, persons with higher levels of OT had lower body weights.…”

Oxytocin therapy in hypopituitarism: Challenges and opportunities

“…In humans, studies have shown that peripheral OT levels are elevated in obesity and the metabolic syndrome, and correlate with BMI and fat mass . Conversely, OT concentrations may be lowered in the presence of overt diabetes . Acutely, intranasal OT administration reduces caloric intake with a preferential reduction in fat consumption; as in animals, these effects are more pronounced in obesity .…”

“…21,22 Conversely, OT concentrations may be lowered in the presence of overt diabetes. [23][24][25] Acutely, intranasal OT administration reduces caloric intake 26,27 with a preferential reduction in fat consumption 26 ; as in animals, these effects are more pronounced in obesity. 27 These actions may be mediated at least in part by modification of hedonic as well as homoeostatic pathways.…”