A Lower Olfactory Capacity Is Related to Higher Circulating Concentrations of Endocannabinoid 2-Arachidonoylglycerol and Higher Body Mass Index in Women
Pastor, Antoni (Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques)
Fernández Aranda, Fernando (Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques)
Fitó, Montserrat (Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques)
Jiménez-Murcia, Susana (Universitat de Barcelona)
Botella, Cristina (University Jaume I)
Fernández-Real Lemos, José Manuel (Hospital Universitari de Girona Doctor Josep Trueta)
Frühbeck, Gema (Universidad de Navarra)
Tinahones, Francisco J. (Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria (Màlaga, Andalusia))
Fagundo, Ana Beatriz (Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge)
Rodriguez, Joan (Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques)
Agüera, Zaida (Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge)
Langohr, Klaus (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Departament d'Estadística i Investigació Operativa)
Casanueva, Felipe F.. (Universidade de Santiago de Compostela)
De La Torre, Rafael (Universitat Pompeu Fabra. Departament de Ciències Experimentals i de la Salut)
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Date:	2016
Abstract:	The endocannabinoid (eCB) system can promote food intake by increasing odor detection in mice. The eCB system is over-active in human obesity. Our aim is to measure circulating eCB concentrations and olfactory capacity in a human sample that includes people with obesity and explore the possible interaction between olfaction, obesity and the eCB system. The study sample was made up of 161 females with five groups of body mass index sub-categories ranging from under-weight to morbidly obese. We assessed olfactory capacity with the "Sniffin'Sticks" test, which measures olfactory threshold-discrimination-identification (TDI) capacity. We measured plasma concentrations of the eCBs 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and N-arachidonoylethanolamine or anandamide (AEA), and several eCB-related compounds, 2-acylglycerols and N-acylethanolamines. 2-AG and other 2-acylglycerols fasting plasma circulating plasma concentrations were higher in obese and morbidly obese subjects. AEA and other N-acylethanolamine circulating concentrations were lower in under-weight subjects. Olfactory TDI scores were lower in obese and morbidly obese subjects. Lower TDI scores were independently associated with higher 2-AG fasting plasma circulating concentrations, higher %body fat, and higher body mass index, after controlling for age, smoking, menstruation, and use of contraceptives. Our results show that obese subjects have a lower olfactory capacity than non-obese ones and that elevated fasting plasma circulating 2-AG concentrations in obesity are linked to a lower olfactory capacity. In agreement with previous studies we show that eCBs AEA and 2-AG, and their respective congeners have a distinct profile in relation to body mass index. The present report is the first study in humans in which olfactory capacity and circulating eCB concentrations have been measured in the same subjects.
Grants:	Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades PI11/00210 Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad PI14/00290 Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2014/SGR-1672
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Published in:	PloS one, Vol. 11 (february 2016) , ISSN 1932-6203

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0148734
PMID: 26849214

15 p, 626.6 KB

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