- Link between a high-fat diet and structural changes in the nasal system
- Mice on high-fat diets were less able to recognise a specific odour, after losing 50 per cent of the brain cells that spot the signals
- Findings show diet may impact on more than just a person’s weight
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Junk food has long been linked to obesity, but a new study shows it could also destroy a person’s sense of smell.
Researchers found that a high-fat diet is linked to major structural and functional changes in the nasal system.
Experiments carried out on mice found those on a high-fat diet were less able to recognise a particular odour after losing 50 per cent of the brain cells that recognise the signals.
A new study has revealed eating junk food could increase the risk of a person destroying their sense of smell
The findings, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, show diet may impact a range of human traits apart from weight.
Dr Nicolas Thiebaud, of Florida State University, said: ‘This opens up a lot of possibilities for obesity research.’
It is the first time researchers have been able to demonstrate a firm link between a bad diet and a loss of smell.
In the six-month study mice were given a high-fat daily diet, while also being taught to associate between an odour and a reward of a drink of water.
Mice given the food were slower to learn the association than a control group given their usual meals.
And when researchers introduced a new fragrance to monitor their adjustment, the mice with the high-fat diets could not rapidly adapt, demonstrating reduced ability to smell.
Fellow researcher Professor Debra Ann
Fadool said: ‘Moreover, when high-fat reared mice were placed on a diet
of control chow – during which they returned to normal body weight and
blood chemistry – they still had reduced olfactory [smell] capacities.
Scientists at Florida State University found links between a high-fat diet and major structural and functional changes in the nasal system
‘Mice that were exposed to high-fat diets just had 50 per cent of the neurons that could operate to encode odour signals.’
The team will now begin looking at whether exercise could slow down a high-fat diet’s impact on smell.
They will also investigate if a high-sugar diet would also have the same negative effect.
Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the study comes at an important time with obesity rates at all time highs throughout the world.
According to the NIH, more than two in three adults in the US and about a third of six to 19-year-olds are considered to be overweight or obese, similar numbers to those on the UK.
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The Contusie,
Up A Country, United Kingdom,
1 hour ago
drinking coffee to excess also ruins your sense of smell too as office workers don’t realise they reek of coffee from 10 cups a day
fruitOclock,
london, United Kingdom,
1 hour ago
Great findings! Another study that shows fat is not good for us. Keep your % of fat intake low, 5-10% of overall calories. You can easily achieve this by eating an abundance of ripe fruit vegetables, rice, baked potatoes corn pasta. Imagine how many other bodily functions get better when fat is really reduced, sense of smell is not the only thing to improve. Energy levels, mental focus, motivation to move, digestion, stronger nails, shinier hair, glowing skin, overall body repair. Smash in the good stuff, keep the animal products out.
Nancy,
London,
1 hour ago
High fat diet? Or Junk food diet?? The 2 are totally different diets.
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