Oxytocin and naltrexone both help modulate appetite and reduce cravings by acting on receptors in the brain. People who are vitamin B12-deficient have low energy and depressed mood. Restoring vitamin B12 levels to a healthy range can improve energy levels.

Researchers are investigating the role of oxytocin in reducing food intake and decreasing impulsive behavior. Studies show that oxytocin reduces caloric consumption and is involved in several eating behaviors. Oxytocin seems to respond to signals from the gastrointestinal tract and energy stores. It acts on reward, homeostasis, and control systems in the brain to reduce calorie intake, especially for more palatable foods. 

Clinical studies also show that oxytocin increases fat breakdown, which induces weight loss separately from its effect on calorie intake. More clinical trials are underway to further explore oxytocin’s weight loss benefits.

In animal studies, oxytocin also seems to reverse declines in muscle strength and mass associated with aging in both men and women. These findings are exciting for their potential anti-aging benefits. 

B12 is essential for growth, cellular reproduction, blood formation, neurological function, DNA and protein synthesis, among other things. B12 also aids in red blood cell production and metabolizing carbohydrates. Efficiently metabolizing carbohydrates and producing red blood cells that optimally carry oxygen to hardworking muscle and brain tissue boosts your overall energy and mental clarity.

Low-dose naltrexone helps with weight loss by targeting insulin resistance, restoring growth hormone levels, modulating appetite, improving sleep patterns, and optimizing thyroid hormone.

• Insulin resistance is when the body cannot effectively convert carbohydrates into energy.
• Low-dose naltrexone may help restore growth hormone to physiological levels.
• Low-dose naltrexone helps you resist cravings for unhealthy foods.
• Sleep and weight loss are interconnected. Poor sleep causes fatigue, low energy, and lower motivation to exercise and resist unhealthy food choices. Weight gain can increase the risk of sleep apnea, which alters sleeping patterns.
• Low-dose naltrexone may help optimize thyroid function.

Oxytocin is produced in the hypothalamus in the brain. It has an effect on brain regions that regulate emotions (limbic system and amygdala). Oxytocin also acts on brain circuits that promote social bonding and affiliation with others.

Oxytocin is released from the pituitary gland in response to stress. Oxytocin is an anxiolytic. It decreases anxiety and the body’s response to stress.

Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin because it is obtained entirely through diet. Vitamin B12 is found in animal products and fortified foods in the diet, but it can also be taken as a supplement.

When bound to the food we eat, vitamin B12 is released from protein by hydrochloric acid and an enzyme called gastric protease. When vitamin B12 is added to food or taken as a supplement, it is already in a free form and does not need to be released. Once vitamin B12 is free, it combines with intrinsic factor in the stomach.

Intrinsic factor is a glycoprotein secreted by specialized cells lining the stomach called parietal cells. The combined intrinsic factor vitamin B12 is absorbed into the body in the ileum, which is the most distal part of the small intestine. Vitamin B12 then binds to transcobalamin, and the complex moves through the bloodstream. The complex is absorbed into cells. Approximately two years’ worth of vitamin B12 is stored in the liver.

Low-dose naltrexone seems to:

• Act on opioid receptors to increase the release of beta-endorphins
• Reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines and increase anti-inflammatory cytokines
• Regulate opioid growth factor

Naltrexone is an opiate antagonist. It is used at a full dose to treat opioid addiction. Low-dose naltrexone helps regulate the immune system and is used to treat auto-immune disorders.