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American scientists have found a link between smell and obesity

'10.07.2017'

Source: SFGate

The sense of smell has a significant effect on metabolism. Photo: Depositphotos

Most Americans, walking through the busy streets of cities, do not realize that the smell of hamburgers, pizza, sushi, falafeli or any other goodies can make you gain weight.

Scientists from the University of California at Berkeley conducted an experiment on mice, which showed that the sense of smell can influence the brain's decision to burn fat or store it in the body.

Andrew Dillin and Celine Riera studied three groups of mice: normal, with a super-scent and no smell, and saw the connection between their ability to smell and weight gain.

During the experiment, the researchers rid one group of mice of the olfactory neurons by applying injections of diphtheria toxin, after which they compared the weight of the body deprived of the receptor with other rodents. After receiving the measurements, the scientists noticed that the weight of the mice without smell had decreased, despite the fact that they received food several times more than the norm. It was found that mice with defective neurons were more resistant to obesity.

Having discovered such an unusual relationship between smell and obesity, scientists have tried to uncover the mechanism of its work, studying what has changed in the work of olfactory cells after blocking receptors. As it turned out, the olfactory organs are directly connected with the part of the nervous system that controls the work of the brown fat cells in which the body burns excess energy.

The researchers set up a reverse experiment, using genetic modifications, increasing the sense of smell in animals. And such mice supersensitive to smells really turned out to be thicker than usual, although both were given the same amount of food. This proves that the sense of smell affects energy metabolism, and it depends on the perception of odors whether nutrients in the form of fats are stored in reserve, or are utilized.

Summarizing the results of their research, scientists said that the sense of smell has a significant effect on brain function associated with appetite and metabolism.

People can use this method of fighting obesity, but there are certain risks. So, turning off the cells of the nose leads to increased levels of stress and stress on the heart, which many may not withstand.

“People who don’t have a sense of smell can become depressed because the sense of smell is very important for behavior,” Riera said. "They lose the pleasure of eating."

Elimination of the sense of smell in a person would be a radical step, I'm sure Dillin, an expert in stem cell research. In both humans and mice, reducing or blocking the sense of smell is only temporary. To use this method among people, scientists must know exactly how much of the olfactory neurons were destroyed and how often, Dillin noted. Because as soon as the sense of smell is restored, the weight can also return.

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