The chemical nature of the urinary odour produced by man after asparagus ingestion.
1. The pungent urinary odour produced by certain individuals within a few hours of eating asparagus has been shown to be due to a combination of up to six sulphur-containing alkyl compounds identified as methanethiol, dimethyl sulphide, dimethyl disulphide, bis-(methylthio)methane, dimethyl sulphoxide and dimethyl sulphone. 2. The possible roles of S-methylmethionine and asparagusic acid as precursors of these odorous substances are discussed in relation to the known chemistry of the vegetable.
Waring
R H
RH
Department of Biochemistry, University of Birmingham, UK.
Mitchell
S C
SC
Fenwick
G R
GR
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009812:Odorants / Q000032:analysis*; D013455:Sulfur / Q000652:urine; D014556:Urine / Q000032:analysis*; D014675:Vegetables
D013455:Sulfur