Oxytocin – meaning, action, deficiency, excess

Oxytocin, commonly known as the bonding hormone, is another hormone described by experts working with ONSEN® in response to requests from from readers of the best blog about sleep.
 

As with almost every hormone, even the slightest disruption of oxytocin levels can result in the deregulation of the entire hormonal system. Our biopsychosocial functioning throughout the day and the ability to have comfortable and restorative sleep at night depend on this system.
 

Therefore, it is important not only to know what oxytocin is, but also what its effects are. This can help predict the risks of oxytocin deficiency or excess and identify any potential symptoms of illness early on.

Oxytocin, also known as the "love hormone", is one of the key peptide hormones. It is released by oxytocinergic neurons located in the supraoptic nucleus and the hypothalamus. Oxytocin is mainly known for its influence on social and emotional life.

The synthesis of oxytocin is a complex process that occurs in the hypothalamus. It is produced from a precursor called prooxytocin, which is enzymatically processed into oxytocin. Prooxytocin is synthesized from deaminooxytocin acid and L-asparagine. This process is tightly regulated by our hormonal systems.

The normal level of oxytocin in the blood of adults is below 3.2 mU/l. There is no established minimum concentration of oxytocin in the blood, but its deficiency is diagnosed by a doctor based on clinical symptoms and individual characteristics.

Oxytocin is a neurohormone that plays an important role in controlling social and emotional processes. It is primarily known for its impact on the formation of social bonds and the regulation of reproductive aspects.

The action of oxytocin is closely related to social processes such as the formation of parental bonds, trust, and empathy. Oxytocin also influences the regulation of uterine muscle tension during childbirth, which is important in the lactation process for women after giving birth.

Oxytocin also plays a role in the regulation of the hormonal system, primarily through the control of the secretion of hormones such as prolactin and vasopressin. Additionally, oxytocin may affect the regulation of sleep, mood, and social behaviors, including trust, empathy, and even romantic relationships.

Furthermore, oxytocin influences the level of emotional tension, reducing the perception of anxiety and stress. The results of many scientific studies suggest that oxytocin may play a role in regulating libido in both men and women.

Conclusions from scientific research suggest that oxytocin plays a crucial role in regulating many social, emotional, and physiological aspects in human bodies. It is an important neurohormone that plays a significant role in social and emotional processes.

Oxytocin deficiency may be associated with disorders of the pituitary gland or hypothalamus, where it is produced. The most commonly noted causes of oxytocin deficiency are:

Sustained low levels of oxytocin in the blood are not desirable. The most commonly reported effects of oxytocin deficiency are:

Collaborating with ONSEN®, a health and rehabilitation psychologist, Mateusz Nesterok, emphasizes the consequences of an excess of oxytocin. While oxytocin is essential in life and plays a positive role, maintaining its optimal level is crucial for maintaining health. Excess oxytocin can disrupt socialization processes, leading to excessive attachment or overprotectiveness.

He points out that too low levels of oxytocin are also undesirable for humans. Oxytocin levels below the norm can cause difficulties during childbirth, as well as increase in body weight, disrupted sleep, and even affective disorders, including depression and, in extreme cases, cyclothymia.

As scientific research suggests, oxytocin is involved in regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which plays an important role in regulating wakefulness. Studies have shown that excessively high levels of oxytocin in the blood can cause transient shortening of both REM and nREM sleep phases, while increasing high-frequency brain wave activity during sleep. This leads to the conclusion that oxytocin, when produced in natural and physiological concentrations, promotes sleep, but excessive levels of oxytocin can cause excessive arousal.

Maintaining an optimal level of oxytocin in the blood is facilitated by comfortable, healthy sleep. This, in turn, requires a functional mattress that provides ideal body support and spinal support. Maintaining the physiological curves of the spine during sleep and allowing the body to fully relax during sleep has a beneficial effect on all its systems, including the hormonal system.

ONSEN® offers the Osaka Air mattress, which is the most functional mattress available on the market. Its jobs to be done are to meet the users' needs and to effectively solve problems they may have. Thanks to this, it has become a cult product that fulfills all 10 basic mattress functionalities and allows for comfortable and healthy sleep. Moreover, like all ONSEN® products, the mattress is covered by even a 15-year warranty, as well as a program allowing for return within 100 days, minimizing the purchase risk to zero.

We also encourage you to explore other articles on the best sleep and health blog, as well as the Encyclopedia of Healthy Sleep prepared by the ONSEN® team of specialists. For those who care about spine health, we recommend a set of spine exercises prepared by our physiotherapist.