It was also found that a diet based on plant products is capable of healing already damaged blood vessels. Specialists from China figured out how coffee can impede the effectiveness of depression treatment. And researchers from Canada demonstrated how a person’s position in the social hierarchy can be determined by body odor. Orange Drink Optimizes the Function of Genes Responsible for Heart Health The consumption of orange juice affects the activity of thousands of genes that regulate blood pressure, metabolism, and inflammatory processes. These data were presented by scientists in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research. The study involved volunteers who drank 500 ml of freshly squeezed orange juice daily for two months. Blood sample analysis showed subsequent changes in more than 3,700 regions of the genome. In particular, changes affected genes regulating arterial blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and the activity of inflammatory responses. Interestingly, in participants with normal weight, genes associated with inflammation transformed more actively, whereas in overweight individuals, changes were observed in genes related to fat metabolism. According to the researchers, the beneficial effect of orange juice is mainly due to the presence of the flavonoids hesperidin and naringenin. They reduce the activity of pro-inflammatory cytokines and enzymes, which has a positive effect on the condition of blood vessels. Social Status Determined Based on Body Odor People draw conclusions about social status not only from the way of dressing, listening, gesturing, and behaving in society. A new scientific experiment conducted by Canadian specialists revealed that the natural body odor also influences this judgment. The results of the work are published in the journal Evolution and Human Behaviour. The study, conducted at the University of Victoria, involved 76 men. They provided saliva samples for testosterone level analysis and wore t-shirts issued to them in advance. Subsequently, 797 participants (both men and women) evaluated these t-shirts, determining the owners’ social status based on smell in two aspects: dominance and prestige. The obtained results were unequivocal: dominance ratings (based on smell) were higher for men with elevated testosterone levels; no connection with prestige was found—the smell conveys signs of strength and authority, but does not inspire respect based on competence. The authors of the work note that in the animal world, smells play a critical role in communication, and it is now becoming obvious that in humans, they also convey subtle, unconscious social signals. Understanding the role of odors becomes particularly relevant now, as many people have lost their sense of smell after recovering from COVID-19. Scientists emphasize that this entails changes in emotional background, interpersonal interaction, and even in personal relationships. Paracetamol During Pregnancy Does Not Cause Autism or ADHD There is no strong evidence that taking paracetamol during pregnancy leads to the development of autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in offspring. This conclusion was reached by the authors of a large-scale review published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ). Specialists concluded that the previously identified correlation is due to other factors, not the direct effect of the medication. The researchers analyzed nine systematic reviews and meta-analyses covering forty individual scientific papers. In some samples, a slight increase in relative risk (about 1.2–1.4 times) for the development of ADHD and a less pronounced one for autism were indeed recorded. Nevertheless, most of these studies had significant methodological flaws: significant variables (such as the mother’s health condition, genetic features, family history) were not accounted for; risk assessment was formal or absent altogether; the statistical analysis used was not sufficiently rigorous. The most informative results were obtained in studies where control was done using siblings. When comparing children within the same family (where some were exposed to paracetamol in utero and others were not), the statistical association between paracetamol and ADHD and autism disappeared. This supports the hypothesis that the observed associations are related to family and hereditary factors, not the drug itself. The review authors emphasize that a cause-and-effect relationship between paracetamol use during pregnancy and the development of autism or ADHD in the child has not yet been confirmed. Medical regulators still classify paracetamol as one of the safest analgesics and antipyretics for pregnant women. Plant Food Restored Heart Function in Laboratory Rodents A diet rich in plant products not only reduces the likelihood of problems but also reverses circulatory disorders characteristic of hypertension in the heart. This conclusion was reached by scientists from Georgia State University. Their research is presented in the Journal of the American Heart Association. In the experiment, rats with arterial hypertension were assigned either a diet completely devoid of plant components or food where vegetables, fruits, nuts, and legumes made up 28%. The caloric content and the ratio of main nutrients were kept the same. Moreover, in some animals showing clear signs of vascular disorders, regular food was replaced with plant-based food to test the possibility of “repairing” already damaged vessels. The obtained results were highly significant: a plant-based diet prevented the development of microvascular dysfunction; in rodents with pre-existing serious vascular pathologies, the restoration of vascular function was observed. Researchers believe that antioxidants play a key role in this process. They protect endothelial cells from chronic damage caused by hypertension and promote the restoration of their ability to regulate blood flow. Unexpected Correlation Found Between Coffee and Depressive States Caffeine may interfere with the action of fast-acting antidepressants. Data published in the journal Brain Medicine led specialists to view the effect of caffeine in a new light. It turned out that it blocks the same receptors that are critically important for the effectiveness of fast-acting antidepressants. A recent study published in Nature demonstrated that ketamine and electroconvulsive therapy for depression initiate a rapid release of adenosine—a substance with an inhibitory effect that signals fatigue in the brain. If adenosine receptors are blocked, the therapeutic response completely disappears. At the same time, artificial stimulation of these receptors provokes a noticeable antidepressant effect. Psychiatrists Ma-Li Wong and Giulio Licinio raise a reasonable question: how does caffeine behave in this scheme? After all, it exhibits the opposite effect—by blocking adenosine receptors. According to the researchers, patients often come for a ketamine injection or an ECT session immediately after their morning cup of coffee. Paradoxically, regular caffeine consumption correlates with a reduced likelihood of developing depression. Scientists explain this phenomenon by the body’s adaptation: prolonged coffee consumption leads to receptor blockade, which, in response, causes an increased production of adenosine itself. Nevertheless, researchers suggest that in acute phases of a depressive disorder, caffeine may negatively affect ongoing treatment. This remains to be determined in future work. Key Points Orange juice reorganizes the functioning of genes related to cardiovascular health. A plant-based diet also has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system. Experiments have shown that such food can prevent vascular pathologies and restore their function in animals suffering from diseases. A large-scale review finally refuted the link between taking paracetamol during gestation and the development of autism or ADHD. Scientists also found that caffeine can weaken the effect of fast-acting antidepressants. Finally, specialists from Canada demonstrated how a man’s dominant status can be determined by his body odor.
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