| Smell perception during early pregnancy: no evidence of an adaptive mechanism. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 15663398 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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OBJECTIVE: It has been suggested that nausea and vomiting in pregnancy is an evolutionary adaptive mechanism to avoid the ingestion of potentially harmful foods. It has also been suggested that the mechanism that triggers nausea and vomiting in pregnancy may be olfaction and that olfactory senses are invoked to provide this protection. This study aimed to test this theory in a systematic design. DESIGN: Cross sectional study. SETTING: The antenatal department of a maternity hospital in the north of England. SAMPLE: Three groups of participants: pregnant women (n= 55), non-pregnant women (n= 42) and men (n= 48). METHODS: Sensitivity was tested towards the odours of six standard stimuli (half safe and half associated with potentially harmful compounds). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Odour rating of likeness, strength and pleasantness. RESULTS: Pregnant women rated safe and odours with potentially harmful compounds differently but not more so than men or non-pregnant women. There was no evidence that pregnancy changed the olfactory processes from the non-pregnant state and only slight differences between pregnant women and men were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: There was no evidence that olfactory processes had undergone any adaptation during pregnancy. The ability to differentiate safe from potentially harmful compounds was common to all three groups studied. |
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Authors:
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Brian L Swallow; Stephen W Lindow; Mo Aye; Ewan A Masson; Cesarettin Alasalvar; Peter Quantick; Jon Hanna |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology Volume: 112 ISSN: 1470-0328 ISO Abbreviation: BJOG Publication Date: 2005 Jan |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2005-01-24 Completed Date: 2005-02-07 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 100935741 Medline TA: BJOG Country: England |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 57-62 Citation Subset: AIM; IM |
Affiliation:
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Applied Health and Clinical Research Centre, Department of Psychology, University of Lincoln, UK. |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Adaptation, Physiological Adult Attitude to Health Cross-Sectional Studies Female Food Hazardous Substances Humans Perception Pregnancy / physiology*, psychology Pregnancy Trimester, First Smell / physiology* |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Hazardous Substances |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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