BACKGROUND:Oxytocin and its receptor have been found throughout the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, where it affects gut function. Clinically, we have noticed an improvement of bowel habits during lactation in constipated women. The aim of this study was to examine whether oxytocin has an effect on bowel symptoms and psychological well being in women with refractory constipation. METHODS:Fifty-nine women with refractory constipation were included in a double blind, multicentre study. After a 2-week run-in period, they were randomly allocated to nasal inhalation of either placebo or oxytocin treatment twice daily for 13 weeks, followed by a 2 weeks, posttreatment period. The patients completed a questionnaire every day concerning bowel habits, abdominal pain and discomfort, and Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rating Scale (GSRS) and Psychological General Well-being (PGWB) twice during the study; namely, during the baseline period and at the end of the treatment period. RESULTS: Both oxytocin and placebo led to improvement of the constipation according to the GSRS and led to improvement in the sensation of incomplete evacuation and anorectal obstruction, without significant differences between the groups. Abdominal pain and discomfort responded weakly to oxytocin, with no effect of the placebo. In a subgroup of patients with IBS and concomitant depression, a weak improvement in depressed mood was observed after oxytocin administartion. CONCLUSION: Nasal administration of oxytocin had no significant advantage over placebo concerning an effect on constipation. However, it seems to have a positive effect on abdominal pain and discomfort and depressed mood. These findings should be further explored.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Oxytocin and its receptor have been found throughout the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, where it affects gut function. Clinically, we have noticed an improvement of bowel habits during lactation in constipatedwomen. The aim of this study was to examine whether oxytocin has an effect on bowel symptoms and psychological well being in women with refractory constipation. METHODS: Fifty-nine women with refractory constipation were included in a double blind, multicentre study. After a 2-week run-in period, they were randomly allocated to nasal inhalation of either placebo or oxytocin treatment twice daily for 13 weeks, followed by a 2 weeks, posttreatment period. The patients completed a questionnaire every day concerning bowel habits, abdominal pain and discomfort, and Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rating Scale (GSRS) and Psychological General Well-being (PGWB) twice during the study; namely, during the baseline period and at the end of the treatment period. RESULTS: Both oxytocin and placebo led to improvement of the constipation according to the GSRS and led to improvement in the sensation of incomplete evacuation and anorectal obstruction, without significant differences between the groups. Abdominal pain and discomfort responded weakly to oxytocin, with no effect of the placebo. In a subgroup of patients with IBS and concomitant depression, a weak improvement in depressed mood was observed after oxytocin administartion. CONCLUSION: Nasal administration of oxytocin had no significant advantage over placebo concerning an effect on constipation. However, it seems to have a positive effect on abdominal pain and discomfort and depressed mood. These findings should be further explored.
Authors: Roberta Agabio; Sergio Mameli; Salvatore Sardo; Luigi Minerba; Maria Rosaria Melis Journal: Rheumatol Int Date: 2014-07-29 Impact factor: 2.631
Authors: Jessie L Frijling; Mirjam van Zuiden; Saskia B J Koch; Laura Nawijn; Dick J Veltman; Miranda Olff Journal: Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci Date: 2015-09-17 Impact factor: 3.436