Question

What causes the unpleasant odor in urine after eating asparagus?

Answer 1

The smell is caused by the breakdown of a chemical called mercaptan. One of many sulphur compounds in asparagus.

Answer 2

It contains a sulfur rich amino acid that gets broken down in the body, and gives a bad smell. It doesn't happen to everybody. See the source...

Answer 3

I think there is lack of an enzyme in some people's bodies that cause the asparagus not to be fully processed...from what i understand it doesn't happen to all people.

Answer 4

It's gotta be some vitamin it it that it has a lot of...does the same to me. I also have the same "stinky" problem when I take multivitamins...that's why I think it's some vitamin in the asparagus.