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【medical-news】童年中耳感染将致日后肥胖
Published: Wednesday, 20-Aug-2008
Researchers are reporting new evidence of a possible link between a history of moderate to severe middle ear infections in childhood and a tendency to be overweight later in life. Their study suggests that prompt diagnosis and treatment of middle ear infections - one of the most common childhood conditions requiring medical attention - may help fight obesity in some people.
The findings were presented today at the 236th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
Study leader Linda M. Bartoshuk, Ph.D., noted that chronic, repeated ear infections can damage the chorda tympani nerve, which passes through the middle ear and controls taste sensations. Damage to this nerve appears to intensify the desire for fatty or high-energy foods, which could result in obesity, she said.
Other research has shown that middle ear infections, or otitis media, are becoming more common in children. Childhood obesity is likewise on the rise and has reached epidemic levels, particularly in the United States. Although scientists have known for years that ear infections can lead to hearing loss in children that can result in speech and language impairment, a possible link between ear infections and obesity has been largely unexplored until now, said Bartoshuk, who is with the University of Florida's Center for Smell and Taste in Gainesville.
In the new study, scientists reviewed data collected from 245 patients (age 30 and older) with a history of middle ear infections and 1,055 patients with no such history. The study included questions about the patients' dietary preferences among a set of 26 common foods and beverages ranging from low-fat to fatty foods. The researchers found that those with a history of ear infections were more likely to report a higher, more intense preference for fatty foods than others and were twice as likely to be obese.
Structure of ear
"The more energy dense a food is, the more a person with ear infections likes it. You can see what that would do to weight gain," says Bartoshuk. "This finding gives a new environmental component to the obesity problem that allows a possibility of intervention."
Bartoshuk emphasizes, however, that the findings are preliminary, with much to be learned about the percentage of children with ear infections who are vulnerable to obesity, how much nerve damage must occur before obesity begins, and how frequently the damage must occur, she says. The possible link between nerve damage in the ear, taste preference, and obesity is a complex problem that is just beginning to be explored, says Bartoshuk, a renowned expert on the study of taste.
"We need to study larger numbers of people and do taste-testing on them to find out more about this possible connection," she says, adding that the research is underway.
http://www.acs.org/
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=40825 本人已认领该文编译，48小时后若未提交译文，请其他战友自由认领 Middle ear infections in childhood linked to obesity later in life
童年中耳感染将导致日后肥胖
Published: Wednesday, 20-Aug-2008
Researchers are reporting new evidence of a possible link between a history of moderate to severe middle ear infections in childhood and a tendency to be overweight later in life. Their study suggests that prompt diagnosis and treatment of middle ear infections - one of the most common childhood conditions requiring medical attention - may help fight obesity in some people.
研究者报道称新证据表明童年有中至重度中耳感染病史与日后更易出现肥胖可能具有相关性。他们的研究表明对中耳感染及时的诊断和治疗可能有助于对抗某些人的肥胖。中耳感染是同年需要接受医疗处理最常见的疾病。
The findings were presented today at the 236th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
本发现发表于今天召开的第236届美国化学协会(ACS)国家会议中。
Study leader Linda M. Bartoshuk, Ph.D., noted that chronic, repeated ear infections can damage the chorda tympani nerve, which passes through the middle ear and controls taste sensations. Damage to this nerve appears to intensify the desire for fatty or high-energy foods, which could result in obesity, she said.
主要研究者负责人Linda M. Bartoshuk博士认为，慢性反复性的耳部感染会破坏鼓索神经，该神经贯穿中耳并且控制味觉。该神经受损后，患者似乎更渴望脂肪或高能食物，从而引起肥胖。
Other research has shown that middle ear infections, or otitis media, are becoming more common in children. Childhood obesity is likewise on the rise and has reached epidemic levels, particularly in the United States. Although scientists have known for years that ear infections can lead to hearing loss in children that can result in speech and language impairment, a possible link between ear infections and obesity has been largely unexplored until now, said Bartoshuk, who is with the University of Florida's Center for Smell and Taste in Gainesville.
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作者:admin@医学,生命科学 2010-12-27 17:14
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