Hello, I got on the web to find out why my urine smelled skunky. I did have asparugus for lunch today, so I guess I found my answer! I must have both genes since I can smell it in my own urine. I have always been told I have a nose like a dog!!

I guess it made me feel a bit better just to know I wasn't the only person out there wondering about this strange phenomenon. The gene theory makes sense because both my sons have complained about the same issue. We now just refer to it as "asparagus pee" but we love to eat it anyway. It is amazing how quickly it reacts in our bodies too. I was hoping we were getting some wonderful benefit from suffering this affliction.

I have the asparagus smell as well. I have also noticed the same effect when I drink espresso or cappacuino's. Is this due to a similiar situation as the asparagus?

I thought I had some strange thing happening because my urine smelled so rotten. I looked it up and low and behold I too had eaten asparagus tonight for dinner. How odd this is what causes it.

I am glad it wasn't something more serious!!!

My asparagus P is not stinky, but does have a distinctive scent. But as the article indicates, it's good news -- the kidneys are just working like they should. It's a 'special' enzyme for special people.

PS -- I am extremely healthy, with a super immune system, so it's no surprise on the smelly P (phenomenon)

I was so intrigued by the phenomena that I did an impromtu survey. I wondered what health repercussions those of us who experience the smell enjoy/suffer.

For me and for at least one other person I surveyed there is another result. THE VAPORS CAN BE FELT ON THE SKIN even without inhaling. Have you noticed?

How long does the smell last....I ate 7 or 8 stalks of asparagus last night, and almost 24 hours later my urine still smells. ??

".. extremely healthy, with a super immune system.. " .. you say... I weigh in at an extremely obese 135 Kg..and am extremely unfit.. filled with a daily dose of cholesterol and blood pressure lowering tablets.... and I too experience a pungent P odour after eating deliciously prepared asparagus.

(viz. crisp marinated)... and the odour reminds me of the smell of "rubber".. eg. rubber tyres.. which is very distinct... anybody have their asparagus a special way giving a "specific" pungent odour like mine...

Initially I just HAD TO ask my GP who assured me there was nothing to worry about.. and.. after reading the thousands of references to asparagus "stuff"... I too am somewhat relieved there is nothing else medically wrong inside my body... c'est la vie... !!!!!

A very helpful explanation of the potential asparagus urine smell.

I'm partial to the idea that the unique urine smell is due to two components; 1) a gene that breaks down the sulfur-containing amino acids 2) a gene that smells the specific compounds formed in the digestion of asparagus.

My thoughts..........

- I too smell a unique smell post ingesting asparagus

- 45 minutes after ingesting 10 spears of asparagus, I collected my urine specimen in a jar

- I asked my brother, wife, two children, and a friend to smell the liquid

- My brother, wife, children and friend all smelled the unique smell

Has anyone been able to create the unique smelling urine and find an individual who does not smell the unique smell of the urine?

Thank you.

Endlessly curious......

I knew my urine smelled due to asparagus for years but never knew why 'til now. However, my wife does not have smelly urine when she eats it, further supporting the 40-50 percentage finding. I do wonder if there is any correlation between producing the smell and any other health or physical factor.

-zman

Thank you for this very helpful explanation of the asparagus/urine phenomenon. I thought something was wrong with me. After eating canned asparagus for dinner last night my pee smelled terribly pungent. I have never smelled anything like it. It seemed to go away and then today I had some leftover asparagus and almost immediately my pee smelled like that again. Searching for answers I found this. Thank god nothing else is wrong with me!! I too could feel the vapors of this stinky odor. weird!!!!

Is the gene giving you the ability to produce and smell the smelly pee a dominant or recessive gene?

I've always loved that distinct smell... but not to the point that I collected it in a jar and asked my neighbors to take a sniff... I bet you got an odd look for that one.

The gene giving you the ability to produce and smell the smelly pee are dominant. It is a basic principle of genetics that traits that are caused by a functioning protein, which in this case are an enzyme and chemoreceptor found in the nose, are dominant traits. You only need one of two functional genes for either trait.

To the Anonymous responder who signed off as "Endlessly curious......": A few months ago, I was half-listening to the TV when words penetrated my consciousness: a vague reference to the cause of the asparagus urine smell. I'd long been curious about the phenomenon. "What did they say caused it?" I asked my daughter, who gave me a quizzical look that indicated she didn't understand the reference. Apparently, though I do have the gene, she does not. Perhaps her father also hasn't the gene. I did not, however, supply my daughter (or anyone else, for that matter) with a sample. And I'm thinking that friend must be a really good friend.

yep, smells like old rubber tires to me too, the fresh picked asparagus. The canned asparagus looses about everything, the brand I had anyways- the main effects, flavor and the pee-you side effect, but the stuff is definitely low on the calorie count!

I used to have it every time. Last night, I noticed it was missing when my husband commented on his. Does that mean my kidneys are malfunctioning, or could it be the result of gall bladder surgery several months ago?

There's a visual gag in one of the Austin Powers films based on the eating asparagus/smelly pee thing, but I guess only 40-50% of people will get the joke!

the last three evenings my last pee of the day smelled horrid. so i googled and now discovered it was the asparagus i've eaten the past three days. this is the first time i've ever noticed this and i've eaten the asparagus in the past. i'm very relieved this is nothing serious as it sure smelled nasty.

My first experience was after eating about 20 stalks !!! I stir fried them and they were delicious. Anyway I ate late that night, and the next morning I decided to take a shower. Well the hot water relaxed me so I urinated in the shower and OMG!!!! The smell was unlike anything I've ever smelled. It is probably the strongest odor I have ever smelled in my life! Not the most offensive, but definitely the strongest! I thought there was something seriously wrong with me, but then I did a little research and found that it was nothing to be concerned about. It still is the strongest most overpowering thing I have ever smelled though.

There's a Tom Robbins novel, I believe it's "Half asleep in Frog Pajamas" where the protagonist suffers the indignation of asparagus pee. That's when I began to wonder why....

My husband always says that his urine smells after eating asparagus, but I have never noticed an odor. Tonight we had asparagus and I had him smell my pee, and he could smell the odor, so I make the smell but I cannot smell it! I suppose I just have one of the two genes. :)

I am just glad it's not something serious!

I figured out years ago, it probably was a digestive reaction. I was surprised that not everyone experiences it. I'm glad I'm not the only one who experiences the asparagus/pee phenomenon. For me, the smell reminds me of grape juice.

I often eat asparagus, and always have the sulphur smelling wee wee just half hour after. I actually don't dislike it! Having read this, and now knowing it proves healthy kidneys, I will like it even more!

I am Type 1 diabetic btw, so even cooler knowing my kidneys are in full working order after 21 years of having the condition! Kidney problems are common with diabetes.

I have just prepared a cashew nut risotto for tonight's dinner, and plenty of fresh asparagus added!!! Yummy!

Glad to know it's all normal. Thanks!

I've had the same awful smelling pee!!!! for years. Now that I know what causes it and that I'm a special person. I'm not afraid to eat it anymore. I couldn't for years figure out why my pee smelled. I've even asked my doctor about what could cause my pee to smell. They would look at my like I was Nuts! I love asparagus, I will still eat it, even though I know what to expect in less then an hour later. It only lasts about 15hrs with me. I just make sure I drink plenty of water while I'm eating it and then well after I'm done with my meal so it will go out of system faster. But I would never pee in the shower after eating the asparagus! Yuk! It's bad enough to have to endure the smell while on the toilet. I try to flush also while I'm peeing, it seems to help, with having to endure the smell while I pee. I will have to check into the skin burning feel when I pee next time after eating asparagus. I'm just glad to know I have healthy Kidneys.

I too was very concerned when I started smelling my urine a few weeks ago when my Wife cooked asparagus for the first time in 15 years of marriage. Funny thing was the next morning at work I got some very odd looks and my urinal neighbor leaned as far away from me as possible. I'm guessing he has the smell gene for sure.

Yeah, I'm not the only one!!!

The human sense of smell is dependent on many genes I think... and none of them are necessarily connected to genes that affect specific enzymes in the digestive tract or later stages of metabolism.

There are people who can't smell specific chemicals but yet produce them in their metabolism, which other people may find repulsive. IE, while others may not be bothered by garlic breath at all, even if they don't eat garlic themselves, there apparently are people who will not develop garlic breath even if they eat a lot of it. BTW this is also due to a sulfuric compound... perhaps related somehow?

Some metabolites form in the digestive tract but aren't absorbed in the gut. They can be sensed in the feces but not urine, breath, or skin secretions.

Gut-absorbed metabolites that are readily in a form where the body will secrete them, can be detected in urine, breath, and/or skin secretions, but less in the feces.

If the digestive metabolites are absorbed but not readily secreted, they may accumulate into the body (mainly liver) or they are further metabolised to other substances that may be secreted through one or other path.

If the asparagus P smell isn't found in other secretions than urine, it is, by this rough categorization, either formed in the blood stream or absorbed entirely in the gut (not found in feces), and further it is best secreted by the kidneys, while some bloodstream metabolites mostly end up in the feces, and some are almost exclusive to sweat or breath.

Well...I feel weird. I love asparagus and sometimes I eat it raw. I just recently (in the last month) noticed a different smell from my urine. But it smells kind of sweet. Like wine or sweet/yeasty smell. Is there something wrong with me? It definitely doesn't smell offensive just weird. Also I'm a woman does that make a difference?

I like asparagus raw sometimes...and I smell like something sweet like a yeast/wine sort of smell. It's not offensive just strange. I keep thinking there's something wrong with me?

I have only recently become a fan of asparagus, and I too produce the 'rubber' smell, as does my partner - I can smell it but he cant!! A lady at work told me about it and I had to test it out!! ha ha!

I also feel different smell of my urine after eating asparagus, but that smell is not disgusting or displeasing at all, that is even pleasurable

like something exotic ointment extracted e.g. from rose or else.