Sunday, July 17, 2011

Why does asparagus make urine smell strong?

There are certain sulfur-containing compounds (similar to those in the musk produced by skunks) in asparagus that are not digested completely by some people (it's a genetic variation). These compounds are water-soluble and are washed out in urine. Also, it is thought that some people are not able to smell these compounds in the first place, which may also be a genetic variation.

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