The average person releases almost 6 1/2 cups of urine each day, according to Harvard Health Publications, and in healthy people who drink enough liquids, the urine emits a light, inoffensive odor. That odor, caused by volatile organic acids in the urine, may vary slightly from day to day, but most of the time it remains barely noticeable. A number of factors and medical conditions--some relatively benign, some potentially serious--can cause urine to have an unusual or stronger odor.
Dehydration and Bacteria
When someone becomes dehydrated, whether from inadequate intake of fluids, physical exertion, high temperatures or any combination of these factors, the urine in his bladder can become concentrated, and when he empties his bladder, the concentrated urine may emit an ammonia-like odor.
Urine is normally sterile, but it may contain bacteria. In those cases, once the urine has been expelled from the body, the bacteria can break down the compound known as urea and convert it into ammonia, explains "Basic Medical laboratory Techniques." This urine will emit a strong smell of ammonia.
When bacteria or other infectious agents enter the urinary tract and cause an infection, the symptoms can include foul smelling freshly-voided urine.
Diabetes and Phenylketonuria
Uncontrolled diabetes can cause urine to have a sweetish or fruity odor. This occurs because byproducts of fat metabolism--known as ketones--are present in the urine. An inherited metabolic disorder known as phenylketonuria, or PKU, causes an accumulation of phenylalanine in the body, explains The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. When phenylalanine breaks down into phenylacetic acid, that compound can cause urine to have a musty or mousy odor.
Maple Syrup Urine Disease
A group of rare inherited metabolic disorders, known collectively as maple syrup urine disease, can cause a variety of symptoms during the first hours and days of life. Those symptoms include lethargy, vomiting, seizures and coma. The disease can also cause the urine to have an odor similar to the smell of maple syrup or burnt sugar.
Diet
Certain foods and spices can cause the urine to emit unusual odors. Garlic and saffron can change the smell or urine, and, according to Harvard Health Publications, asparagus can cause urine to acquire a greenish color and an odor that to some people resembles that of rotting cabbage.
Other Inherited Disorders
"A Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests" mentions that an inherited kidney disorder known as cystinuria can cause urine to have a sulphurous odor. The manual also mentions tyrosinemia, a disorder whose symptoms include urine that emits a fishy or cabbage-like odor.
References
- "Practical Medical Biochemistry"; Dinesh C. Sharma; 2007
- Harvard Health Publications: Urine Color and Odor Changes
- "A Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests"; Frances Fischbach; 2003
- "Basic Medical Laboratory Techniques"; Barbara H. Estridge; 1999
- The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Amino Acid and Organic Acid Metabolism Disorders
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