While you might feel "drunk with love," emerging research shows that oxytocin—the so-called "love hormone"—can mitigate some effects of alcohol intoxication. Scientists from the University of Sydney (Australia) and Regensburg University (Germany) demonstrated this in a study published on February 23, 2015, in the prestigious journal PNAS. Importantly, it does not reduce blood alcohol levels.
In the experiment, intoxicated rats injected with oxytocin directly into the brain maintained coordination and walked straight lines, unlike untreated drunk rats. A video from the study illustrates this clearly: three groups underwent a rodent sobriety test. The first group was sober, the second intoxicated, and the third received high doses of oxytocin before alcohol exposure, as reported by Sciences et Avenir.
The oxytocin-treated rats performed as steadily as the sober ones. "Oxytocin has a protective effect that masks behavioral signs of intoxication," explained lead researcher Dr. Michael Bowen from the University of Sydney.
Next, the team plans human studies. "If we can deliver sufficient oxytocin to the brain, it may counteract alcohol's impact on speech and clear thinking after heavy drinking," Dr. Bowen noted.
Caution is advised: Claiming "I'm in love, so I'm sober" won't hold up with police. Without experimental intervention, natural oxytocin levels won't suffice against alcohol, and blood alcohol concentration remains unchanged, as experts emphasize.
