Brilio.net - Underarm odor is often a disturbing problem for many people, especially when doing activities in hot weather or doing intense physical activities. This phenomenon not only disturbs one's own comfort, but can also affect social interactions with others.
Interestingly, people in several Asian countries, especially Japan and Korea, are known to have a tendency not to experience significant underarm odor problems. It is known that around 80 to 95% of East Asians, such as Korea and Japan, rarely experience underarm odor.
It is no wonder that many people are curious about the reason why Koreans and East Asians do not have smelly armpits. Reporting from NBC News, according to Dr. Madalyn Nguyen, this can happen because they experience dysfunction of the ABCC11 gene which is related to armpit odor.
As a result, the bodies of Japanese and other East Asians do not emit the same sour odor that other people emit when exposed to hot temperatures and sweat. Generally, body odor, especially apocrine sweat glands, is found in the armpit and groin areas.
But for people who do not have the ABCC11 gene mutation, the protein in the sweat glands helps lift fat compounds or lipids from cells into sweat. Then, bacteria on the skin break down the lipids in a thicker, oilier sweat to produce body odor. Unfortunately for people who have the ABCC11 gene mutation, the protein in the sweat glands generally does not function this way.
In addition to mutations, there are several other factors that support Japanese and Korean or East Asian people not having sweat odor, what are they? Let's see the complete review below, as reported by brilio.net from various sources, Thursday (29/8).
The reason Japanese and Korean people don't have smelly armpits.
The reason Japanese & Korean people don't have smelly armpits
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1. Genetic factors
The main reason why Japanese and Koreans tend not to have strong underarm odor is genetic. Research published in the journal Nature Genetics in 2006 by Yoshiura et al. found that most East Asians, including Japanese and Koreans, have a genetic variant called ABCC11. This variant causes the apocrine glands in the armpits to produce less odorous sweat.
Specifically, the ABCC11 gene regulates the production of a chemical in sweat called 3-methyl-3-sulfanylhexanol acid (3M2H). People with this gene variant produce less 3M2H, which is a major component of body odor.
Studies show that about 80-95% of Japanese and Koreans have this gene variant, compared to only about 2% of Europeans and Africans.
2. Types of sweat glands
Humans have two main types of sweat glands: eccrine glands and apocrine glands. Eccrine glands produce sweat that is mostly water and salts, which is odorless. Apocrine glands, on the other hand, produce a thicker sweat that contains proteins and lipids that can be broken down by bacteria, resulting in body odor.
Research conducted by Harker et al. (2014) in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology showed that East Asians, including Japanese and Koreans, tend to have fewer apocrine glands compared to other populations. This contributes to less sweat production and less odor in the underarm area.
3. Differences in skin microbiomes
Body odor is largely caused by bacteria that live on our skin, especially in the armpit area. These bacteria break down components in sweat into odorous compounds. Adapting a study from BMC Microbiology by Callewaert et al, revealed that the composition of the skin microbiome varies between populations.
It is further explained that Asians, including Japanese and Koreans, tend to have higher populations of Staphylococcus bacteria on their skin compared to Corynebacterium bacteria. Staphylococcus generally produces a milder odor compared to Corynebacterium, which is more common in Caucasian and African populations.
4. Lifestyle factors
Although not the main factor, lifestyle and diet can also affect body odor. Japanese and Korean people generally consume more vegetables, fish, and fermented foods in their daily lives. These foods tend to produce less odorous compounds when metabolized by the body.
Research conducted by Havlicek and Lenochova (2006) in the journal Chemical Senses shows that consuming red meat can increase the intensity and discomfort of body odor.
5. Hygiene practices
Japanese and Korean cultures place a high emphasis on personal hygiene. Bathing regularly, changing clothes every day, and using the right personal hygiene products can help reduce body odor. While it is not the main factor in why they do not smell, good hygiene practices can help minimize any body odor that may be present.
A study by Prokop-Prigge et al. (2016) in the journal Chemical Senses showed that showering frequency and use of deodorant can affect the intensity of body odor. Although this study is not specific to Japanese and Korean populations, it suggests that good hygiene practices can contribute to reduced body odor.