Women with PCOS showed lower fasting oxytocin and incretin hormone levels alongside impaired appetite signaling, with oxytocin and GLP-1 appearing to share a disrupted pathway.
1294 vs 1580 pg/mLFasting oxytocin levels in women with PCOS versus healthy controls
What the researchers found
Women with PCOS had significantly lower fasting oxytocin levels (1294 vs 1580 pg/mL, p=0.024) and reduced baseline and postprandial GLP-1 and GIP levels compared to matched controls. Oxytocin and GLP-1 were correlated at all time points, and in healthy controls, early oxytocin changes correlated with hunger and satiety — a relationship absent in women with PCOS. Food cravings were also significantly higher in the PCOS group.
Why it matters
PCOS affects up to 10% of women and is often accompanied by weight gain and difficulty managing appetite. This study reveals that both oxytocin and incretin hormones are simultaneously disrupted in PCOS, suggesting a shared pathway that could explain the increased food cravings and appetite dysregulation these women experience.
The numbers in context
n=72 (36 PCOS, 36 controls) · Oxytocin 1294 vs 1580 pg/mL (p=0.024) · GLP-1 baseline p<0.001 · GIP baseline p<0.001 · FCQ scores higher in PCOS (p<0.001)
How the study worked
Cross-sectional study comparing 36 women with PCOS to 36 age- and BMI-matched healthy controls. All underwent a mixed meal test during the early follicular phase with blood drawn at 0, 30, 60, and 120 minutes. Measured oxytocin, GLP-1, and GIP levels. Hunger, satiety, and food cravings assessed using visual analog scales and the Food Craving Questionnaire.
Who was studied
Young women with PCOS (mean age 21.6, BMI 25.5) and age/BMI-matched healthy controls
What this study cannot tell us
Cross-sectional design cannot establish causation. Moderate sample size of 72 total participants. Only studied during early follicular phase, so hormonal dynamics at other cycle points are unknown. Did not test whether correcting these peptide deficits would improve appetite symptoms.
How to read the evidence
Moderate evidence: well-matched case-control design with serial blood sampling and validated appetite measures, but cross-sectional design limits causal conclusions and the sample size is moderate.
When this study was published
Published in 2025. Highly current research at the intersection of PCOS, GLP-1, and oxytocin — an emerging area of investigation.
The bigger picture
This study connects two separate research threads — oxytocin's role in appetite and GLP-1's role in metabolic health — in the context of PCOS. As GLP-1 drugs become more widely used for weight management, understanding why women with PCOS have lower baseline incretins and disrupted oxytocin could open doors for targeted hormonal therapies that address the root cause of appetite dysregulation rather than just suppressing it.
Questions still open
- Would GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy normalize both incretin and oxytocin dynamics in women with PCOS?
- Is the oxytocin-GLP-1 correlation a direct biological link or driven by a shared upstream regulator?
- Could intranasal oxytocin reduce food cravings in women with PCOS?
Common questions
Why are oxytocin and GLP-1 connected?
Could GLP-1 drugs help women with PCOS who have food cravings?
Read the original research
Fasting and postprandial oxytocin and incretin dynamics in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and healthy controls.
European journal of endocrinology, 193(2), 255-261
Citation
Gunesli, Irmak; Ulug, Elif; Pinar, Aylin Acikgoz; Portakal, Oytun; Yildiz, Bulent O. (2025). Fasting and postprandial oxytocin and incretin dynamics in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and healthy controls.. European journal of endocrinology, 193(2), 255-261. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejendo/lvaf154