Personalized Genetics For Deodorant Use

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Personalized genetics can be used for all sorts of things; apparently now it can determine whether you need to use deodorant.  Axillary (armpit) odor seems to be predominantly determined by variants of the ABCC11 gene (which also determines wet vs. dry earwax).  A study has found that individuals (of those studied) with the non-odor genotype were over-represented in the group that never used deodorant, which makes sense - they don't need it.  However, a large majority of white Europeans with the non-odor phenotype did use deodorant, while a small fraction of those who do have axillary odor do not use deodorant.  Therefore, social and cultural factors are at play. One may assume that some of the non-odor people who use deodorant may have been using deodorant since adolescence and may be unaware that they do not need it (they assume the lack of smell is due to deodorant use and not their genetics) and/or they adopt a "better safe than sorry attitude") toward it. As to why those who need it don't use it, who knows?  Also, the non-odor genotype is more frequently found in east Asians, who therefore would be less likely to need to use deodorant.  Abstract:

Earwax type and axillary odor are genetically determined by rs17822931, a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) located in the ABCC11 gene. The literature has been concerned with the Mendelian trait of earwax, although axillary odor is also Mendelian. Ethnic diversity in rs17822931 exists, with higher frequency of allele A in east Asians. Influence on deodorant usage has not been investigated. In this work, we present a detailed analysis of the rs17822931 effect on deodorant usage in a large (N∼17,000 individuals) population cohort (the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC)). We found strong evidence (P=3.7 × 10−20) indicating differential deodorant usage according to the rs17822931 genotype. AA homozygotes were almost 5-fold overrepresented in categories of never using deodorant or using it infrequently. However, 77.8% of white European genotypically nonodorous individuals still used deodorant, and 4.7% genotypically odorous individuals did not. We provide evidence of a behavioral effect associated with rs17822931. This effect has a biological basis that can result in a change in the family's environment if an aerosol deodorant is used. It also indicates potential cost saving to the nonodorous and scope for personalized genetics usage in personal hygiene choices, with consequent reduction of inappropriate chemical exposures for some.