Intranasal Oxytocin Improves Lean Muscle Mass and Lowers LDL Cholesterol in Older Adults with Sarcopenic Obesity: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Obesity is associated with sarcopenia in older adults, and weight loss can lead to further muscle mass loss. Oxytocin decreases with age, and animal studies suggest that oxytocin administration has trophic effects on skeletal muscle cells and reduces adiposity. We conducted a clinical trial to examine the safety and preliminary efficacy of intranasal oxytocin for older adults with sarcopenic obesity.

Design

A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized controlled trial of intranasal oxytocin (24 IU 4 times per day) for 8 weeks.

Setting and participants

Twenty-one older (67.5 ± 5.4 years), obese (30-43 kg/m²), sedentary (<2 strenuous exercise per week) adults with slow gait speed (<1 m/s, proxy measure of sarcopenia) were recruited.

Measures

SUBMITTER: Espinoza SE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8567747 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature