Oxytocin is a neuropeptide, which experiments in animals have shown, can act as an

appetite suppressant. In humans the research has seemed to focus on social behavior. This group
of scientist are experimenting the effect of a dose of intranasal oxytocin on ingestion and
metabolic function in 20 healthy men.
They began by testing all the men to have a baseline assessment of blood, psychological
variables and energy expenditure. Once they finished the initial testing they gave the men doses
of oxytocin and placebo intranasally (through the nose). Forty-five minutes after they doses were
given they presented the men with a breakfast buffet for thirty minutes. An hour afterwards they
were tested again. The men were later given the opportunity for snacks. Throughout the sessions,
mood, hunger and thirst were assessed and blood samples were taken.
Throughout the experiment oxytocin inhibited reward- but not hunger- driven eating.
When presented with the breakfast buffet, oxytocin did not affect the intake of breakfast in the
men. In the snack test, however, oxytocin did show an affect. Compared with placebo the total
snack intake was lower. This was driven by a decrease in chocolate cookie consumption amongst
the men.
Generalizing, the reason oxytocin had an effect on the cookie consumption and not the
breakfast is because of what it inhibits. Stated earlier, oxytocin inhibits reward-but not hunger-
driven eating. The men all had the same breakfast intake, more than likely, due to the presence
of hunger. However, when faced with food with the absence of hunger the oxytocin exposed
mens intake was lowered. This directly shows how oxytocin can affect eating with the lack of
hunger.