❓ why
Why does asparagus make urine smell?
foodscience
Quick Answer
The body breaks down asparagusic acid into smelly sulphur compounds, which some people cannot even detect.
The Full Story
Asparagus contains asparagusic acid, which digestion converts into volatile sulphur compounds such as methanethiol. These can reach urine within 15–30 minutes of eating. A 2016 study in the BMJ found that about 58% of men and 61% of women could not smell the odour, a trait called 'asparagus anosmia'. Researchers linked it to hundreds of genetic variations near smell-related genes.
Key Facts
1.The smelly compounds are harmless.
2.Benjamin Franklin mentioned asparagus-scented urine in a humorous 1781 letter.
3.Cooking does not remove asparagusic acid.
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"The Asparagus Pee Mystery — Can You Smell It?"