The unexplored therapeutic potential of oxytocin

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, June, 2006 by H.J. Roberts

The demonstration of enhanced "trust" in male subjects following the nasal administration of oxytocin (1) reinforces my belief that this hormone has far greater therapeutic potential than has been heretofore appreciated, especially for neurological disorders.

I have been impressed by the dramatic clinical responses and concomitant metabolic effects to synthetic oxytocin--administered both nasally and parenterally. (2,3) These were the most noteworthy in patients with multiple sclerosis, (2,3) including the prompt reversal of Babinski responses and ankle clonus, and the normalization of altered diurnal water/urine metabolism. Moreover, these effects were predictably reproduced on re-challenge.

I am not aware of any clinical trials aimed at confirming these striking observations having such profound therapeutic implications as these, described four decades ago.

H.J. Roberts, MD, FACP

Palm Beach Institute for Medical Research

P.O. Box 17799

West Palm Beach, Florida 33416 USA

hjroberstsmd@aol.com

References

1. Fehr, E., Fischbacher U., Heinrichs M., Kosfeld M., Zak P.J. Oxytocin increases trust in humans. Nature. 2005;435:673-676.

2. Roberts, HJ. An inquiry into the pathogenesis, rational treatment, and prevention of multiple sclerosis, with emphasis upon the combined role of diabetogenic hyperinsulinism and recurrent edema. J Am Geriatrics Soc. 1966;14:586-608.

3. Roberts, HJ. On the etiology, rational treatment, and prevention of multiple sclerosis. South Med J. 1966;59:940-950.