Science reveals that your smell can indicate clues about your health; know more

Hundreds of chemical compounds are released from our bodies into the air every second, providing valuable clues about our health. These compounds, known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), have diverse origins, including breath, skin, urine, and feces.

Since ancient Greece, we have noticed changes in body odor when we feel unwell. Today, science shows that various diseases, such as liver failure and diabetes, can alter the properties of VOCs in the breath, providing valuable indicators.

Recent studies reveal that VOCs found in breath, skin, and other waste can contain information about our overall health. Researchers are exploring the ability of these compounds to diagnose various conditions, from intestinal diseases to neurological diseases.

The discovery by a patient's wife of a change in body odor years before a Parkinson's disease diagnosis demonstrates how VOCs can predict health conditions. Currently, technological advances such as mass spectrometry provide a deeper understanding of VOC profiles associated with various diseases.

Although dogs have a more acute sense of smell, scientists are seeking to develop diagnostic devices based on volatile organic compounds extracted from their breath. In addition, research on VOCs in the skin is still in its early stages but is already showing promising results, revealing information about personal characteristics such as gender and age.

VOCs are not just an indicator of health; They also serve as a communication channel in ecosystems, used by plants, insects and animals as pheromones. While human pheromones are still a topic of debate, VOCs in the skin can offer insight into individual characteristics, aging, metabolic health, and even the ability to attract a mate. Continued study of these compounds could lead to major advances in health monitoring and disease diagnosis.

With information from CNN Brazil.