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In animal models of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), trials generally have shown that oxytocin improves social behavior. However, results have been mixed in human trials of exogenous oxytocin administration. Investigators speculated that endogenous oxytocin levels, which are low in many (but not all) ASD patients; might explain the mixed results.
Researchers at Stanford conducted a randomized, double-blind trial in 32 children (age range, 6–12 years) with ASD. Pretreatment endogenous blood level of oxytocin was measured in each child. Daily intranasal oxytocin or placebo was administered for 4 weeks. When results were analyzed without reference to pretreatment oxytocin levels, improvement in social behaviors with treatment fell just short of …