The Effect of Meat
Consumption on Body Odor Attractiveness
By Havlicek J, Lenochova P
Axillary body odor is individually
specific and potentially a rich source of information about its producer. Odor individuality partly results from
genetic individuality, but the influence of ecological factors such as eating habits are another main source of odor
variability. However, we know very little about how particular dietary components shape our body odor. Here we
tested the effect of red meat consumption on body odor attractiveness. We used a balanced within-subject
experimental design. Seventeen male odor donors were on "meat" or "nonmeat" diet for 2 weeks wearing axillary pads
to collect body odor during the final 24 h of the diet. Fresh odor samples were assessed for their pleasantness,
attractiveness, masculinity, and intensity by 30 women not using hormonal contraceptives. We repeated the same
procedure a month later with the same odor donors, each on the opposite diet than before. Results of repeated
measures analysis of variance showed that the odor of donors when on the nonmeat diet was judged as significantly
more attractive, more pleasant, and less intense. This suggests that red meat consumption has a negative impact on
perceived body odor
hedonicity.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...&dopt=Abstract
JVK
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