The UMU patents a new method to quantify the ‘happiness hormone’

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The procedure makes it possible to measure oxytocin levels faster and cheaper, using saliva as a biological sample

The University of Murcia has patented a new method for measuring oxytocin levels, a biomarker associated with the state of well-being and stress in humans and animals, which may influence immune system function and disease predisposition.

Oxytocin is a hormone traditionally associated with the regulation of events related to reproductive physiology, such as childbirth and lactation, but in recent years particular importance has been attached to its relationship with other fields, such as psychology and medicine, human and animal behavior. Not surprisingly, this hormone is related to the phenomenon of prosocial behaviors such as attachment and social memory, which is why it is also commonly known as the “hormone of love.” In general, oxytocin levels are measured in animals and humans to detect increases in concentration, as they indicate a situation of well-being and stress reduction; that is, the higher the concentration of oxytocin, the higher the level of ‘happiness’.

The patented procedure consists of an in vitro method, based on immunodetection, which allows the quantification of oxytocin levels using biological samples, in particular saliva. The methodology uses a specific system that allows the quantification of both the so-called free Oxytocin and the protein-bound Oxytocin, through a single procedure and without the need to perform complex sample processing procedures, as has been the case until now.

“One of the main advantages of our method is that it allows the quantification of the total value of oxytocin in a sample, without the need to concentrate or freeze-dried the sample, thus facilitating and simplifying the analysis,” says Professor José Joaquín Cerón, head of the Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis of the University of Murcia (Interlab-UMU), from which the patented results originate.

The procedure of the invention is characterized by allowing the evaluation of the degree of well-being and stress in both humans and animals, the latter area of ​​great importance, as ensuring an adequate level of well-being has now become a top priority and social relevance.

«It is a simple procedure to implement, with less resource consumption and faster to execute compared to other existing techniques. Another major advantage is that a saliva sample can be used to perform this quantification, a sample that can be obtained without causing stress or pain,” added Professor Cerón.

Interlab-UMU has been quantifying various biomarkers in saliva for over 20 years with great interest and potential application in evaluating health and wellness. These biomarkers include markers to assess inflammation, such as acute phase proteins; markers to assess immune and oxidative status; and markers to assess stress, in addition to oxytocin itself.

The determination of these biomarkers is offered as a specialized scientific analysis service to research groups, other analysis laboratories and other animal welfare and health companies, making Interlab an excellent laboratory specializing in the provision of saliva analysis services, both nationally and internationally.

Source: La Verdad

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