You may have seen the click-baiting headlines flying around social media. “Smelling farts cure cancer,” “Fart smells have big health benefits,” and the like. Admittedly, it’s been hard to resist reading some of those sensational headlines and making the odd joke about it, giggling like school children.

But if you cut through the playground humour of it all, there is actually some science behind the story, though potentially not as much as you may have been led to believe.

In the most recent issue of the Medicinal Chemistry Communications journal, Sophie Le Trionnaire and other researchers at the University of Exeter looked into the impact of hydrogen sulphide gas on cells’ mitochondria. The more academic amongst us may already know that hydrogen sulphide is produced naturally humans during the digestion process and, sometimes, embarrassingly escapes out of the body.

The compound is also found in the smell of rotten eggs, and is toxic in large doses. But, enough about that: Whilst titillating those facts and japes are largely irrelevant in relation to the study, unfortunately.

The scientists found that miniscule levels of this gas could, potentially, prevent mitochondrial damage. This could then be used to help prevent strokes, heart diseases and other ills.

According to the researchers – who conducted their study without the use of rotting eggs or ample amounts of flatulence – when diseases put stresses and strains on the body, the cells undergo a process which creates “minute quantities of hydrogen sulphide” which protects mitochondria. (Mitochondria acts, essentially, as an energy generator for cells and so protecting it against damage is crucial to help combat diseases.)

The formation of trace amounts of hydrogen sulphide “keeps the mitochondria ticking over and allows cells to live. If this doesn’t happen, the cells die and lose the ability to regulate survival,” said Professor Matt Whiteman of the University’s Medical School in a statement, who went on to say that they have created a compound called AP39 which can deliver a small amount of hydrogen sulphide.

The research is interesting, but still in its early stages.

And despite what you’ve read, buying rotting egg fragrances won’t help you fight off diseases.

But, we do suggest you ramp up your consumption of baked beans.

After all, who is to doubt the scientific credibility of this little ditty?

Beans, beans, good for your heart,
The more you eat the more you….

photo: protactinium (Creative Commons)