A new study is underway to determine whether the so-called “love hormone” oxytocin could be the newest weapon in the weight loss arsenal. Oxytocin has long been linked to feelings of love, bonding, and social happiness in humans.

Researchers, led by Dr. Elizabeth Lawson of Harvard Medical School, first thought to test the hormone when research on animals suggested it may help the body regulate food intake. The study involved 25 men taking both an inactive placebo and a synthetic oxytocin nasal spray before ordering a meal from a menu. The average age of the participants was 27, and they did not know whether they were being given the placebo or the real drug.

The study found, after measuring how much food was eaten from each meal, that those who took the oxytocin ate an average of 122 fewer calories than those who did not. They also consumed an average of 9 fewer grams of fat, which translates to about 80 fewer calories absorbed from fatty foods.

Although these results are promising, more research is needed to determine whether the link is something that can be used. “Not much is known about oxytocin effects on appetite and food consumption in humans,” said Lawson. “We need to do more studies to see whether oxytocin could be used to treat obesity and diabetes.”

More research would also provide more information about potential side effects. Right now, the list of possible complications that could come from using “intranasal oxytocin include uterine contractions in pregnant women and, rarely, nausea, headache or allergic dermatitis,” said Lawson. Women were not included in the study, so it is harder to judge how the drug might affect them.

Although it is not yet approved for use in the U.S., oxytocin nasal spray is already available in European markets. The cost of the synthetic hormone, if used for weight loss purposes three times per day before meals, would be equivalent to $275 a month, according to Lawson.