BEING SMELLY MAY PROTECT YOU

DIABETES and other metabolic conditions can alter body odour. This is because they lead to a build-up of toxins in the blood which are transmitted to the sweat, which can then be detected as acidic or rotten apple scents, explains Professor Havenith.

Patients may also have nerve damage as a result of uncontrolled blood sugar levels. This in turn can affect the nerves surrounding sweat glands, and cause them to sweat excessively, says Dr Hextall.

The upside to the odour is that you’re less likely to be bitten by a mosquito, according to a 2005 study by Rothamsted Research and the University of Aberdeen. Scientists found people who don’t get bitten produce chemicals that ‘mask’ the scent of lactic acid, a bodily waste product that attracts mosquitoes.