Odor Associated with Aging

Anti-Aging Magazine, Published May 11, 2010

by Sadahiko Yamazaki, Kunihide Hoshino, Masatoshi Kusuhara

Abstract

60 Human body odor is generated by waste materials present on the skin surface and secretions from the sweat and sebaceous
glands. These waste materials are converted to characteristic odorous compounds through oxidative degradation or metabolism
by skin microbes. Changes in body odor due to aging relate to the amount and composition of sweat and sebum secreted, as well
as gland activity. 2-Nonenal has an unpleasant, greasy, grassy odor and is mainly detected in people aged over 40 years.
Generation of 2-nonenal is related to oxidative degradation of 7 unsaturated fatty acids. Given that body odor may function as a
barometer indicating the body’s overall health, further understanding of this odor’s makeup is important. Here, we define several
types of body odor and describe changes in body odor, with a specific focus on 2-nonenal, an odor characteristically associated
with aging.