Could your DNA be to blame for your 'cabbage breath'? Scientists discover a genetic mutation could cause halitosis
- A mutated protein causes certain people to exhale a boiled-cabbage odor
- When this gene is mutated in mice, they also suffer the same effects
- Most cases of bad breath are caused by an overgrowth of bacteria in mouths
- Yet, up to 3% of sufferers have no obvious cause, which could be serious
- Bad breath is also linked to gum disease and, in severe cases, liver cirrhosis
Scientists have discovered a genetic mutation could be to blame for persistent bad breath.
Researchers have identified a mutated protein, carried by certain halitosis sufferers, which causes them to exhale a boiled-cabbage odor, a study by global researchers found.
When this protein is mutated in mice, they also suffer the same effects, the research adds.
Most cases of bad breath are due to an overgrowth of bacteria in the person's mouth, however, up to three per cent of sufferers have no obvious cause.
Professor Kent Lloyd, from the Mouse Biology Program at the University of California, Davis, which was involved in mutating the study's mice, said: 'It's important to identify the cause of persistent halitosis, and differentiate that cause from relatively benign causes (e.g., gum disease) and the more morbid causes, such as liver cirrhosis.'
The researchers hope their findings will help to treat this form of halitosis, which has no cure.
Scientists have discovered a genetic mutation could be to blame for bad breath (stock)
'It's important to identify the cause of persistent halitosis'
People who produce a lot of sulfur-based compounds in their breath, particularly methanethiol, breathe out an unpleasant boiled-cabbage smell.
Certain bacteria break down these sulfur compounds.
Yet, humans with a mutation in the gene SELENBP1 have high sulfur-compounds levels in their blood, which are then exhaled.
When the researchers mutated this protein in mice, they found the rodents also had high methanethiol levels in their blood.
Professor Lloyd said: 'While we didn't put our noses up to the mice's mouths, we did measure high amounts of some of these odor-forming chemicals in their blood, matching precisely what was found in the patients.
'It's important to identify the cause of persistent halitosis, and differentiate that cause from relatively benign causes (e.g., gum disease) and the more morbid causes, such as liver cirrhosis.'
The findings were published in the journal Nature Genetics.
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