Oxytocin could be a Determinant in Bone Mineral Density and Prevent Osteoporosis in Women
The “love hormone” oxytocin can be a substantial factor in the control and prevention of osteoporosis among postmenopausal women. Recent experiments in female rats suggest that the hormone oxytocin can prevent loss of bone density and strength.
According to a study conducted by scientists in Brazil’s Sao Paulo State University (UNESP) in Brazil, the hormone involved in pair-bonding and orgasm reversed precursors of osteoporosis. The scientist administered the hormone to female rats at the end of their fertile period and observed a reversal of decreased bone density, bone strength, and a lack of substances that promote bone formation.
Premenopausal Period
FAPESP supported the study. A description of the study is published in Scientific Reports. A lead researcher affiliated with UNESP’s Aracatuba Dental School (FOA), Rita Menegati Dornelles said:
“Our research focuses on the prevention of primary osteoporosis, so we investigate physiological processes during the premenopausal period. In this part of a woman’s life, measures can be taken to prevent bone brittleness and fractures, which lead to a lower quality of life and can shorten life expectancy.”
During the study, the researchers administered two doses of oxytocin 12 hours apart to ten 18-month old female Wistar rats. The scientists analyzed blood samples thirty-five days after oxytocin was administered, comparing the results with those for ten 18-month-old female Wistar rats that were not given the hormone. There was no evidence of osteopenia (loss of bone density) in the animals treated with oxytocin, in contrast with the control group. Dornelles stated:
“Our results demonstrated that oxytocin helps to modulate the bone remodeling cycle in senescent rats. The animals that received the hormone displayed an increase in biochemical markers associated with bone renewal and the expression of proteins that support bone formation and mineralization.”
Age-Related Decline in Bone Mass
The period between puberty and perimenopause, the transitional period before menopause, is an essential hormonal milestone. This is the time when ovaries begin to produce less estrogen and mark the end of infertility. After reaching peak bone mass at age 25–30, there is a gradual, age-related decline in bone mass. As a result of changes in the amount of estrogen in the body, in females, this bone loss accelerates after menopause. Once women reach the peak bone mass at age 25–30, there is a gradual, age-related decline in bone mass. The change in the amount of estrogen in the body of females and the related bone loss accelerates after menopause.
This loss of estrogen affects each female differently, and the impact varies between cultures. Menopause can be a positive experience for some, but it can also induce a raft of changes in the body. These include mood changes, hot flashes, night sweats, and a loss of bone density. The researchers in this study focused on the femoral neck, which is the most common location for hip fractures, which are three times as frequent in women as in men.
Viable Natural Solution
This research results are something to write home about and maybe more reliable since the scientists used rats that still had their ovaries intact. The results are encouraging because the hormone could provide a viable natural solution for osteoporosis prevention in some people. That the animals used were undergoing a natural aging process makes it more relevant to the human experience. Dornelles added:
“The animals that received the hormone displayed an increase in biochemical markers associated with bone renewal and in the expression of proteins that support bone formation and mineralization.”
Oxytocin (OT), a neurohypophysial hormone regulated by estrogen and leptin, may play a role in bone metabolism in humans, as suggested by animal studies. Oxytocin is secreted by bone cells and is associated with bone metabolism in females. The levels of this hormone also decline during menopause. Further studies are necessary to assess the safety and efficacy of oxytocin treatment in humans.