352 | id == 352
352 | category_id == 21
352 | category_order == 18
352 | category_name == Anxiety
352 | category_color == #C47AC0
352 | slug == OXTR-anxiety
352 | title == The Love Hormone’s Link to Anxiety Disorders (OXTR)
352 | meta_description == OXTR encodes the oxytocin receptor, which communicates with parts of the brain that feels fear. Does this gene increase anxiety?
352 | summary == <p><strong>OXTR encodes the oxytocin receptor, which communicates closely with parts of the brain involved in fear. Can some variants increase anxiety? Find out here.</strong></p>
352 | overall_score_text == Your Anxiety Score (based on OXTR)
352 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/OXTR-Anxiety.jpg
352 | author_id == 1
352 | author_name == Jasmine Foster
352 | author_title == BSc, BEd
352 | author_order == 36
352 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Jasmine.jpg
352 | author_intro == <p><strong>Jasmine received her BS from McGill University and her BEd from Vancouver Island University.</strong></p>    <p>Jasmine loves helping people understand their brains and bodies, a passion that grew out of her dual background in biology and education. From the chem lab to the classroom, everyone has the right to learn and make informed decisions about their health.</p>
352 | reviewer == None
352 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
352 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
352 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
352 | publish_date == 2020
352 | publish_date == 9
352 | publish_date == 24
352 | avg_rating == 5.0
352 | tags_id == 742
352 | tags_name == Amygdala
352 | tags_id == 112
352 | tags_name == Anxiety
352 | tags_id == 741
352 | tags_name == Fear
352 | tags_id == 16
352 | tags_name == OXTR Gene
352 | tags_id == 49
352 | tags_name == Oxytocin
352 | tags_id == 50
352 | tags_name == Stress
352 | permissions_favorite == False
352 | permissions_rate == False
352 | content_article == <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Summary</span></h2> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">OXTR</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> encodes the receptor for oxytocin, a hormone and neurotransmitter responsible for social bonding and feelings of love. Variants of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">OXTR</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may play a role in anxiety disorders through their effect on the amygdala, a part of the brain that processes fear. Lifestyle, diet, and supplement modifications may help with anxiety by increasing oxytocin release and the sensitivity of oxytocin receptors.</span></p> <h2><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">OXTR </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">&amp; Anxiety</span></h2> <p><a href="https://selfdecode.com/blog/gene/oxtr/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">OXTR</span></em></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> encodes the receptor for oxytocin, an important signalling molecule in the brain [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/5021"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We&rsquo;ve known for decades that </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/the-social-chilled-out-and-empathetic-genes-oxytocin-receptor-snps/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">oxytocin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, sometimes called the love hormone, is vital for social bonding and empathy. That may be why the </span><a href="https://selfdecode.com/blog/gene/oxtr/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">OXTR</span></em></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">gene is among the best-studied genes in the human genome [</span><a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0269881112473788"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Variation in the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">OXTR</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene has been associated with anxiety disorders, particularly social anxiety. This link isn&rsquo;t surprising, given oxytocin&rsquo;s role in social bonding [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26858594/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20708845/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22146101/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Changes in oxytocin levels or sensitivity to oxytocin can change the way our brains perceive other people and their opinions of us [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26858594/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25564674/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Decreased sensitivity to oxytocin may increase sensitivity to social cues, and especially rejection by other people. This can lead to increased social anxiety [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26858594/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22146101/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886917305494"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Blocking the Amygdala</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">OXTR</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene also changes the way our brains&mdash;specifically a part of the brain called the amygdala&mdash;develop. Adolescents with the &lsquo;A&rsquo; allele of rs2254298 tend to have larger amygdalas than those without the &lsquo;A&rsquo; allele [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4679629/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3104107/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20832055/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The amygdala is responsible for processing threat signals; put simply, it feels fear. The more sensitive your amygdala is to signs of threat, the more stressed out and anxious you will feel [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9861466"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18655902"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Oxytocin reduces activity in the amygdala, thereby reducing anxiety and fear. Thus, the larger your amygdala and the less sensitive you are to oxytocin, the more susceptible to anxiety you are likely to be [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9861466"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29019100"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16339042"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20647384"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15821089"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">OXTR</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene encodes the oxytocin receptor. Oxytocin inhibits the development and activity of the amygdala and thereby reduces feelings of anxiety.</span></span></p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Your </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">OXTR </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Results for Anxiety</span></h2> <p>*9746645130565255*</p> <p><strong>OXTR </strong><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs53576"><strong>rs53576</strong></a></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Associated with increased emotional reactivity to social stress</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Associated with reduced emotional reactivity to social stress</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>OXTR </strong><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs2254298/"><strong>rs2254298</strong></a></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Associated with smaller amygdala size and lower anxiety</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Associated with larger amygdala size and higher anxiety</span></li> </ul> <p>*1820669052072521*</p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recommendations for Reducing Anxiety</span></h2> <p>*9157502274282103*</p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Physical Contact</span></h3> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/massage-health-benefits/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Massages</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> help stimulate the production and release of oxytocin throughout the brain, which is probably one of the main reasons why massages are so good at reducing stress and improving mood [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23251939"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9924739"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">More generally, pleasant physical contact with other people and companion animals increases oxytocin release. Multiple studies have shown the potential of pet therapy (usually dog-assisted) to relieve stress and anxiety [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18842740"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5645535/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a>, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29882342/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">,&nbsp;</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30277859/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Oxytocin is released in response to pleasant physical contact. To stimulate oxytocin receptors, get a massage, hug your loved ones and pets, and consider trying pet therapy.</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Avoid Magnesium Deficiency</span></h3> <p><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/21-proven-science-based-reasons-magnesium-amazing-including-drawbacks/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Magnesium</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is the fourth most abundant mineral found in our body. It is essential to all living cells and vital for numerous physiological functions [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3592895/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3775240/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Magnesium is required for oxytocin to bind to its receptor, so a deficiency in magnesium could result in less effective binding [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1135623/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a clinical trial, magnesium supplementation reduced</span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/natural-treatments-anxiety/"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> anxiety</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and anxiety-related disorders when used in combination with other vitamins, minerals and herbal extracts [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2959081/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In another trial, magnesium chloride supplementation significantly improved depression and anxiety symptoms regardless of the severity of mental illness or whether the patient was already taking antidepressant medication [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5487054/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Magnesium is available as a supplement and is also abundant in nuts, beans, and spinach [</span><a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Magnesium is required for oxytocin to bind to its receptor. It has also been an effective supplement in multiple clinical trials studying depression and anxiety.</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Supplements</span></h3> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Melatonin</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Melatonin, commonly known as the sleep hormone, is derived from the amino acid tryptophan and the neurotransmitter </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/how-to-increase-serotonin"><span style="font-weight: 400;">serotonin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. In a healthy system, it regulates the sleep-wake system, improves the immune response, and protects cells from damage [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3001212/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to a handful of studies, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/melatonin/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">melatonin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> boosts sensitivity to oxytocin by increasing </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">OXTR </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">expression. Melatonin is considered generally safe to supplement with few (if any) serious side effects [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2730229/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4273450/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For a comprehensive list of strategies to increase melatonin naturally, check out </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/melatonin-part-2/#Factors_That_Increase_Melatonin_Levels"><span style="font-weight: 400;">this SelfHacked post</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fenugreek</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In middle eastern traditional medicine, women use </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/benefits-fenugreek/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">fenugreek</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to increase oxytocin and promote lactation. Fenugreek is a versatile plant; you can add the greens (also called methi) to your salads or make tea with the seeds [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4561638/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Melatonin may increase </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">OXTR</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> expression, while fenugreek is a traditional remedy to increase oxytocin and thereby promote lactation.</span></span></p>
352 | content_snp_table_9746645130565255_key == 9746645130565255
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352 | content_learn_more_1820669052072521_key == 1820669052072521
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352 | content_learn_more_1820669052072521_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your OXTR gene is moderately associated with anxiety disorders due to an enlarged amygdala. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of anxiety; it’s just one gene related to it. Physical contact and certain supplements may help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
352 | content_recommendation_9157502274282103_key == 9157502274282103
352 | content_recommendation_9157502274282103_blur == True
352 | content_recommendation_9157502274282103_hidden == False
rsIDs = rs2254298,rs53576
rsStatus = rs2254298,OXTR,chr3,8760542,G,A,T,,37,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs53576,OXTR,chr3,8762685,A,G,T,,28,15,HET
