Certain compounds in asparagus are metabolized giving urine a distinctive smell due to various sulfur-containing degradation products, including various thiols, thioesters, and ammonia.
The volatile organic compounds responsible for the smell are identified as:
- methanethiol,
- dimethyl sulfide,
- dimethyl disulfide,
- bis(methylthio)methane,
- dimethyl sulfoxide,
- dimethyl sulfone.
Subjectively, the first two are the most pungent, while the last two (sulfur-oxidized) give a sweet aroma. A mixture of these compounds form a "reconstituted asparagus urine" odor. This was first investigated in 1891 by Marceli Nencki, who attributed the smell to methanethiol. These compounds originate in the asparagus as asparagusic acid and its derivatives, as these are the only sulfur-containing compounds unique to asparagus. As these are more present in young asparagus, this accords with the observation that the smell is more pronounced after eating young asparagus. The biological mechanism for the production of these compounds is less clear.
The onset of the asparagus urine smell is remarkably rapid: it been estimated to start within 15–30 minutes of ingestion
Do not believe for one second, I understand what any of this means...but for those of you who do...get a life!
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