If you eat asparagus...

[BenF]

...does it make your piss smell?

How does it feel to be a methyl mercaptan producer? Does it put you off eating asparagus?

I can eat asparagus with no urinary involvement. So there.

 

[Lube]

I thought I was dying the first time I pissed after eating asparagus.


It smells that bad.

 

[gmoney]

I love it! If it's fresh, I steam it. I keep the canned stuff in the fridge and just put a little mayo on it and eat it cold. Never have noticed any effect on the urine odor, though.

 

[Circe Infuria]

...does it make your piss smell?

How does it feel to be a methyl mercaptan producer? Does it put you off eating asparagus?

No.

I'm an avid asparagus eater (sometimes I eat a whole can of it for supper) and I've never noticed a change in the smell of my urine.

**shrugs shoulders**

 

[TopThruster]

I eat it without thought of how my pee smells.

And coffee does the same. I hate walking into a public restroom in the morning with all the coffee pee smell.

 

[Absolut]

Are you serious?!?

How can you eat it and NOT smell it???

I have to turn my head sometimes away from the toilet so I don't spew as well...

Makes me wonder why I love it so much

 

[BenF]

Just in-case you are interested as to why: (a) It makes your pee smell and (b) Some people can't smell the difference...

Allison and McWhirter first showed that the ability to produce methyl mercaptan after eating asparagus is not universal. Some people would produce detectable amounts in the urine after eating only three or four spears of asparagus, while others would produce none even after eating as much as one pound (0.45 kg) of asparagus. In their random sample of 115 human subjects, they demonstrated that this ability occurred in about 40% of the population, with an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern.

In a larger study of 800 volunteers, Mitchell and co-workers verified these findings in both men and women, and from a pedigree analysis of two families, with one spanning three generations, the autosomal dominant mode of inheritance was also confirmed.

Interestingly, the BMJ later reported a study in which all the subjects could produce methyl mercaptan, but their ability to smell it in the urine differed. Those who were able to smell the odour in their own urine could smell it in the urine of anyone who had eaten asparagus irrespective of whether or not that person could smell it. The authors suggested that the ability to smell these substances in one's or, indeed, another's urine was also genetically determined.

Apart from methyl mercaptan, other metabolites may be responsible for the smell of the urine after eating asparagus. Gas chromatography of the urine has shown that the odour could be caused by S-methyl-thioacrylate and S-methyl-3- (methylthio)thiopropionate, while a combination of methyl mercaptan, dimethyl sulphide, and small amounts of sulphur-oxidised compounds could also be responsible.8 The source of these metabolites is unknown, but the last paper postulates asparagusic acid, which is specific to asparagus and, when given to humans, causes the same characteristic smell in the urine.

BMJ, 2004

 

[TopThruster]

I keep the canned stuff in the fridge and just put a little mayo on it and eat it cold.

That was how I had my first taste of asparagus. Must be a Southern thing. Now I prefer it fresh and steamed.

 

[Absolut]

That's actually very interesting Ben - good to know I'm not the only freak out there

I can smell it within 30-40 mins after eating it

gross

 

[Marbas]

My piss always seems to just smell like piss.

 

[sixthson]

Yes, it causes a detectable odor and no, the odor does not prevent me from eating it.

Indian food has the same effect.

IMO, canned asparagus is beyond disgusting.

 

[operafan]

I eat asparagus all the time. I don't do anything that would have me smell my piss - so I don't know whether it makes it smell different or not.

I can't imagine that any except someone into watersports would know.

And there ain't nothing wrong with watersports (didn't mean to imply that).

 

[Absolut]

I eat asparagus all the time. I don't do anything that would have me smell my piss - so I don't know whether it makes it smell different or not.

I can't imagine that any except someone into watersports would know.

And there ain't nothing wrong with watersports (didn't mean to imply that).

Trust me opera -

you'd know. It's inescapable.

(and I'm not into watersports at all)

 

[Lube]

Trust me opera -

you'd know. It's inescapable.

(and I'm not into watersports at all)

Yeah, I smelled it long before I got into watersports, ... er, uh, I mean, ... a long time ago.

 

[winterknight]

I don't like asparagus so I don't know whether I do or not.

My father does, though. Usually within half an hour.

 

[cityboy-stl]

Yes, one of the top three rules before engaging in watersports

1. Don't take vitamins.
2. Don't drink coffee.
3. Don't eat asparagus.

.

 

[re-run]

asparagus makes me gag.

 

[hawkia]

Smells like sulfer to me, Still love it.

 

[spyder3d]

You don't have to get right down into the bowl to smell it. It is very noticeable while standing and peeing. As the posted report says, your pee may smell but your genetics don't allow you to smell it.

 

[Kirbster]

Mine always smells after I eat asparagus. It doesn't stop me from eating it, though. I do prefer canned to fresh; can't stand it crunchy at all. I do love canned from a good brand like Green Giant or Del Monte.