...sulfur metabolism....molybdeum deficiency ..garlic tase? #2

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Jane, Here are a few views................... Saralou

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How Does Asparagus Make Urine Smell? | eHow.com

http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4586963_asparagus-urine-smell.html copied

by slp Sat Nov 19 2011 22:30:41 GMT-0500 (Eastern Standard Time) *

Does Asparagus Make Urine Smell?*

*

If you've ever eaten asparagus, something strange may have happened

about 20 minutes after eating it. Perhaps you noticed, perhaps you

didn't, but chances are that tasty asparagus side dish left

something behind for you. Sure, it's a rather odd token of

appreciation, but that popular green veggie called asparagus is

known to cause a rather strange smell in the urine of those who

consume it.

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The Facts*

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Asparagus contains a sulfur-containing compound identified by

scientists as methyl mercaptan. A colorless gas, this compound is

also found in blood, feces, garlic, eggs, cheese and even skunk

secretions. In fact, methyl mercaptan is one of the major

contributors to bad breath and flatulence odors. In addition,

another ingredient found in asparagus is asparagine. Present in

foods like dairy products, seafood, poultry, fish and nuts, this

amino acid is known to have a distinctive smell when heated. To

metabolize both methyl mercaptan and asparagine, the digestive track

must break these compounds down and it is this breakdown that's

responsible for your urine's strange smell.

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The Debate*

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Since both methyl mercaptan and asparagine are associated with the

sense of smell, there is debate over which ingredient is actually

responsible for the asparagus-urine phenomenon. Depending upon whom

you ask, some scientists may blame it on the methyl mercaptan while

others argue that asparagine is the cause for the odor. Some even

think that it's the combination of both compounds. Regardless of the

exact culprit, the reason why your urine smells after eating

asparagus is simple: because of the way your body breaks it down.

*

Why Doesn't Asparagus Make my Urine Smell?*

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Asparagus is no stranger to debate, and the disagreement over which

specific ingredient causes urine to smell is not the only example.

Because many people claim that, regardless of asparagus consumption,

their urine does not smell, there are multiple theories regarding

that as well. The first claims that everyone's urine is in fact

affected by asparagus, but only about half of the population have

the specific gene that is required to smell the change. On the other

hand, the second theory states that only half of the world's

population has the gene that's required to break down the compounds

found in asparagus and, if the body doesn't break them down, no

smell is emitted. Whichever reason is correct, for many people,

asparagus will forever be known as the vegetable that makes your

urine smell strange.

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Skinny On : Discovery Channel

http://dsc.discovery.com/guides/skinny-on/asparagus.html copied by slp

Sat Nov 19 2011 22:32:07 GMT-0500 (Eastern Standard Time)

In 1891 a scientist named " Nencki " had so very little to do that he

convinced four guys to eat seven kilograms of asparagus (that's about

three and a half pounds each). He collected the pertinent pee, worked

some medieval magic on it, and concluded that the smell was due to a

metabolite called methanethiol.

So there you go. Nencki claimed that as your body metabolizes asparagus,

it produces this smelly chemical, which your discriminating kidneys see

fit to dump into the bladder.

This probably doesn't qualify as red-hot science, but it's warm enough

to spark differing opinions.

In 1975 a chemist from California claimed in /Science/ that gas

chromatography had fingered a different culprit: S-Methyl Thioesters, to

be precise. No methanethiol.

Then there's the 1980 reference in the /British Medical Journal/ that

simply refers to " metabolites. " Another asparagus scholar favors " six

sulfur-containing compounds. "

I'm voting for methanethiol, partly because the guy who did the gas

chromatography left no forwarding address, and partly because the

methanethiol entry in my aging /Merck Index/ of chemicals is so interesting.

Methanethiol is composed mostly of sulfur with a splash of hydrogen,

plus some carbon, a brew famous for its effect in rotten eggs, cabbages

and paper mills. Convincing, no? Merck also notes the asparagus

connection and, most intriguing, warns that methanethiol may be a

narcotic in high concentrations.

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Why Does Asparagus Make Some People's Urine Smell Funny?

http://www.wisegeek.com/why-does-asparagus-make-some-peoples-urine-smell-funny.h\

tm

copied by slp Sat Nov 19 2011 22:33:49 GMT-0500 (Eastern Standard Time)

The good news is that asparagus does not affect everyone in this way.

Studies conducted on the " asparagus urine " phenomenon (aren't you glad

you didn't volunteer!) indicate that roughly 40 to 50 percent of those

tested developed the distinctive odor. Surprisingly enough, there is

also a segment of the population who cannot smell the sulphurous fumes

of asparagus-laced urine. It is believed that both the generation of the

odoriferous urine and the ability to smell it are based on genetics.

Only those with a certain gene can break down the chemicals inside the

asparagus into their smelly components, and only those with the proper

gene can smell the results of that chemical breakdown. What's more, the

two abilities aren't always embodied in one person. That is, those who

produce it, can't always smell it, and those who can smell it don't

necessarily produce it.

--- Re: Re: DMSO...sulfur metabolism....molybdeum

deficiency ..garlic tase? #2

Date: Sun, 20 Nov 2011 13:37:00 +1100

What amazes me is how unpleasant my urine smells when i have eaten

asparagus, but I do also notice odour when I have used DMSO or products

containing DMSO

Jane