No evidence for association between human body odor quality and immune system functioning

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216208%3A11310%2F21%3A10431149" target="_blank" >RIV/00216208:11310/21:10431149 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/00023752:_____/21:43920644

Result on the web

<a href="https://verso.is.cuni.cz/pub/verso.fpl?fname=obd_publikace_handle&handle=i.GZLsRj6T" target="_blank" >https://verso.is.cuni.cz/pub/verso.fpl?fname=obd_publikace_handle&handle=i.GZLsRj6T</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105363" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105363</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

No evidence for association between human body odor quality and immune system functioning

Original language description

Previous studies have shown that women perceive male faces with a more reactive immune system as more attractive, but whether body odor might likewise provide cues to immune function has not been investigated yet. These two studies tested a possible relationship between body odor quality and immunoreactivity (Study 1) and immune system function (Study 2). In Study 1, we collected body odor samples from 21 men just before and two weeks after vaccination against hepatitis A/B and meningococcus. We determined the levels of specific antibodies (selected as markers of immune system&apos;s reactivity), testosterone, and cortisol. Subsequently, 88 female raters assessed the samples for their attractiveness, intensity, and healthiness. In Study 2, we collected body odor and blood samples from 35 men and women. We assessed key parameters of their innate and adaptive immunity, such as complement activity or total lymphocyte T and B counts and asked 95 raters to assess the samples for their attractiveness, intensity, and healthiness. In Study 1, we found no significant association between antibody levels induced by vaccination and perceived body odor attractiveness, intensity, and healthiness. We also found no significant relationship between antibody levels and steroid hormones (testosterone and cortisol). In Study 2, we likewise found no association between basal key parameters (innate and adaptive) of the immune system and body odor quality. Our results indicate that body odor does not serve as a cue to the reactivity of the immune system.

Czech name

—

Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

10613 - Zoology

Project

Result was created during the realization of more than one project. More information in the Projects tab.

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2021

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Psychoneuroendocrinology

ISSN

0306-4530

e-ISSN

—

Volume of the periodical

132

Issue of the periodical within the volume

October

Country of publishing house

GB - UNITED KINGDOM

Number of pages

10

Pages from-to

105363

UT code for WoS article

000701203000023

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85111620070