Do you work with someone whose breath you could smell from a few feet away? Did you go to school with someone who always had a foul body odor? Have you ridden the bus next to someone that smelled like fish or garlic? If you did chances are you thought that these people needed to bathe or have better personal hygiene, but the truth is they may have a medical disorder called Trimethylaminuria or TMAU for short.
TMAU is a disorder where the body’s metabolic system fails to alter the chemical trimethylamine, which is known for having a foul fishy odor. TMAU is a rare disorder where trimethylamine is accumulated in the body and excreted through sweat, saliva, and urine. The primary cause is genetics and is passed on through an autosomal recessive trait.
TMAU can be caused by treatments where patients receive large amounts of amino acid derivative L-carnitine (levocarnitine). In this secondary form of TMAU, the body is lacking the enzymes it needs to process and completely break down the carinitine leaving it in the trimethylamine form. TMAU is found in more women than men. According to the National Human Genome Research Institute, scientists believe that it could be due to the higher levels of female sex hormones.
Trimethylaminuria is diagnosed by a simple urine test. The urine is tested for increased levels of trimethylamine. Possible carriers of TMUA are tested by taking a 600-dmg pill of trimethylamine. Carriers will excrete 20 to 30 percent trimethylamine where as non-carriers will only excrete 13 percent. There is gene testing available but only through research laboratories.
There is not a cure for TMAU. However, there are a few ways to help decrease the amount of trimethylamine in the body.
Avoid foods that have trimethylamine, choline, lecithin and trimethylamine N-oxide in them. These foods can include milk from wheat fed cows, eggs, liver, beans, peas, peanuts, soy products, cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, and seafood.
Taking a low dose of an antibiotic can suppress the production of trimethylamine but reducing the amount of bacteria in the digestive tract.
Taking laxatives to expel the food quicker before the trimethylamine can be produced.
Taking Riboflavin supplements may improve enzyme activity. The recommended dosage is 30-40 mg 3-5 times a day with food.
Imagine how that girl in high school felt when no one wanted to sit by her because she had a body odor. Everyone just though she was lazy and dirty, but it turns out she may have had TMAU and didn’t know it. Next time you crinkle your nose because someone smells bad or offer someone a breath mint because the have bad breath use a little bit on compassion. You never know if it is bad hygiene or a medical condition.
