Vitamins enhance attractiveness

Essential nutrients such as vitamins can act as pheromones to attract the opposite sex, at least in lizards.

Rock lizard (Photo: BBC)

That is the conclusion of the Spanish researchers. They have given vitamin D to lizard men and the females have become excited with the waste of these males.

Whether vitamin D fuel has the same effect in men is unclear.

The researchers said that in lizards, the appearance of vitamins in male secretions may be a sign of good health, and is a useful sign for females to choose males.

"In other lizards, we found large amounts of vitamin E in excretions and we think it functions similar to vitamin D," said Jose Martin at Madrid's National Museum of Natural Science. .

Animals use pheromones as a communication tool to appeal to their partners. Most of these pheromones are odorless to humans.

Vitamin D plays an important role in the immune system of stone lizards, it also helps calcium exchange process take place better. Animals often cannot synthesize enough vitamin D in the skin, but must earn more through eating.

The team found that males receiving vitamin D supplementation produced more provitamin D. Provitamin D turns into vitamin D after exposure to solar radiation. Females are also more interested in excretions from males supplemented with vitamin D, shown by sticking their tongues constantly, they are also more likely to be present in areas where strong males were there.

MT