06/29/2025
Is your ear wax the next early detection and diagnostic marker for diseases? Could consuming more olive oil, a monounsaturated fatty acid rich in oleic acid (cis-9-octadeconoic acid) and known for its chemical stability and resistance to oxidation be part of the key since low level's in ear wax were correlated with disease?
"A recent analysis reported that patients with Ménière’s disease had lower levels of three fatty acids in the cerumen compared with healthy controls — the first biomarker identified for that disorder."
From a research study by Allix Marie C**n, Gavin Setzen, and Rabi Ann Musah
in ACS Omega 2023, 8, 30, 27010–27023 "Even though cerumen is commonly considered to have little to no clinical relevance, its physical characteristics have been found to be associated with several disorders. For example, an increase in waxy constituents is associated with psoriasis; “scanty” and dry earwax is found in those with cystic fibrosis; dark brown or black earwax occurs with alkaptonuria; and those with Parkinson’s disease usually produce an excess of wax that can lead to ear canal blockage. Furthermore, earwax has been shown to contain biomarkers indicative of underlying disease states."
In the study compared to the non-Ménière’s disease samples, the Ménière’s disease samples showed a marked decrease in the concentrations of three fatty acids, cis-9-hexadecenoic acid, cis-10-heptadecenoic acid, and cis-9-octadecenoic acid (found in high amounts in olive oil).
Earwax can contain valuable indicators to a person's health. Now scientists are analysing its chemistry in the hope of finding new ways of diagnosing diseases.
