Does anyone know, why when you eat asparagus, does it make your pee stink?

Answer 1

About half of the population will notice this odor after eating asparagus because of the sulfur-containing amino acids which break down after ingestion .

The Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board at www.asparagus.org considers asparagus to be one of the most nutritionally well-balanced vegetables, supplying significant nutrients and fiber for a healthy diet. For asparagus nutrition information, see www.asparagus.org

DETAILS: Why eating asparagus causes one's urine to have a strong, unique odor

As archived in the Boston Globe at www.boston.com, below are more details about why asparagus causes urine to have a unique odor:

Asparagus is filled with sulfur-containing amino acids that break down during digestion into six sulfur-containing compounds. These can impart a unique smell to urine as they are excreted. "It's the same sulfur group that makes skunks smell," said Barbara Hodges, a dietician with Boston University's nutrition clinic, the Evans Nutrition Group.

Scientists remain divided on why people have different urinary responses to eating asparagus. One camp thinks only about half of the population have a gene enabling us to break down the sulfurous amino acids in asparagus into their smellier components. Others think that everyone digests asparagus the same way, but only about half of us have a gene that enables us to smell the specific compounds formed in the digestion of asparagus.

"There's something of a dispute," said Dr. David Stollar, chairman of biochemistry at Tufts University Medical School.

The unusual smells are nothing to worry about, though. According to the Dictionary of Medical Syndromes, which includes an entry on the urinary excretion of odoriferous components of asparagus: "The syndrome does not have any pathological significance."

Answer 2

Asparagus contains a sulfur containing compound called mercaptan. When your body breaks this down, it makes malodiferous biproducts. It also depends on your bodies enzymes and how they break it down. Here is a site!

Answer 3

It's a smell you can not describe. All those that say they don't smell their pee must not eat asparagus

Answer 4

Higher levels of vitamins that your body cannot break down are then expelled through urination, same way that vitamin B5 excess turns your pee bright yellow.

Answer 5

Sorry, can't tell ya. I do not SNIFF my pee. If I ever do, I'll letcha know.

Answer 6

Sulfar! Makes it yellow too!

Answer 7

yes it does. and eating pineapples makes your man juice taste sweeter.

Answer 8

So you'll have a question to post on YA.

Answer 9

http://www.discovery.com/area/skinnyon/skinnyon970115/skinny1.html

Answer 10

yes def does