Genes Are Crucial Not everyone can smell asparagus in their urine

Stinging smell of urine after asparagus enjoyment not for all to smell
Asparagus is one of the most popular vegetable varieties of the Germans. Unfortunately, lovers of the precious vegetables also know the foul smell of urine, which sets in after the consumption of asparagus. But many people do not notice it. This is due to the genes, as US scientists now report.

Delicious and healthy
Most Germans love asparagus. The noble vegetables are not only delicious, they are also healthy. Among other things, the rods are said to have a positive effect on the nervous system, cell growth (skin, hair) and digestion. In addition, the vegetables contain a variety of valuable vitamins (A, C, B1, B2 and E) as well as minerals and trace elements (iron, calcium, potassium, copper, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc). Amongst other things, health experts recommend the popular vegetables for constipation, bile and liver problems, diabetes or problems with the bladder. A disadvantage: Asparagus consumption leads to foul-smelling urine. But not all people can smell it.

According to a new study, over half of people do not perceive the foul smell of urine after eating asparagus. This is due to certain genetic variations. (Image: Robert Kneschke / fotolia.com)

Many do not notice the foul odor in the urine
A research team from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston has now investigated why this is so. For their work, the researchers evaluated two previous studies, the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, with a total of over 6,900 participants.

According to "NBC News," the results showed that "40 percent of the study participants were sure they could smell a distinct odor in their urine after asparagus consumption, and 60 percent said they could not, so they were considered "Asparagus odorless" classified ".

Certain variations in the genome
The researchers had previously suspected a genetic cause for this phenomenon. In their investigation, they then actually found that this odor blindness can be associated with certain variations in the genome of the subjects.

According to the experts, the experts found certain genetic features in the DNA, which are significantly related to the ability to smell the degradation products of the asparagus in the urine.

Why some people have such genetic variations and others do not, but so far is not known.

The scientists published their findings in the Christmas issue of the British Medical Journal. (Ad)