Insulin resistance is associated with reduced food odor sensitivity across a wide range of body weights
Poessel M, Freiherr J, Wiencke K, Villringer A, Horstmann A (2020)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2020
Journal
Book Volume: 12
Pages Range: 1-16
Article Number: 2201
Journal Issue: 8
DOI: 10.3390/nu12082201
Abstract
The worldwide obesity epidemic is a major health problem driven by the modern food environment. Recently, it has been shown that smell perception plays a key role in eating behavior and is altered in obesity. However, the underlying mechanisms of this phenomenon are not well understood yet. Since the olfactory system is closely linked to the endocrine system, we hypothesized that hormonal shifts in obesity might explain this relationship. In a within-subject, repeated-measures design, we investigated sensitivity to a food and a non-food odor in the hungry and sated state in 75 young healthy (26 normal weight, 25 overweight, and 24 obese) participants (37 women). To determine metabolic health status and hormonal reactivity in response to food intake, we assessed pre-and postprandial levels of insulin, leptin, glucose, and ghrelin. Odor sensitivity did not directly depend on body weight status/body mass index (BMI) or hunger state. However, we could establish a strong negative mediating effect of insulin resistance on the relationship between BMI/waist-hip ratio and olfactory sensitivity for the food odor. These findings indicate an impact of metabolic health status on sensitivity to food odors. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms behind altered smell perception in obesity.
Authors with CRIS profile
Jessica Freiherr
Professur für Neurowissenschaften der sensorischen Wahrnehmung (Stiftungsprofessur)
Involved external institutions
Universitätsklinikum Leipzig
Germany (DE)
Max-Planck-Institut für Kognitions- und Neurowissenschaften / Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences
Germany (DE)
Germany (DE)
Max-Planck-Institut für Kognitions- und Neurowissenschaften / Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences
Germany (DE)
How to cite
APA:
Poessel, M., Freiherr, J., Wiencke, K., Villringer, A., & Horstmann, A. (2020). Insulin resistance is associated with reduced food odor sensitivity across a wide range of body weights. Nutrients, 12(8), 1-16. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu12082201
MLA:
Poessel, Maria, et al. "Insulin resistance is associated with reduced food odor sensitivity across a wide range of body weights." Nutrients 12.8 (2020): 1-16.
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