Funky thiols in shiitake mushrooms

I’ve noticed it in multiple episodes that my urine would suddenly start having this really strange, sulfur-type odor. It would often last for days. I checked online and found that urine odor can be a sign of a UTI.

I also at one point wondered whether it could be caused by shiitake mushrooms but every time I search I ended up finding a bunch of articles about urine odor from eating asparagus.

But then today I did finally find something interesting. This one researcher found that the urine of male mice contains this thiol (sulfur-based) compound called Methylthiomethanethiol or MTMT for short. It turns out that there are few different thiol compounds that are involved with different gender-specific scents.

The smell of roasted coffee is also caused by a thiol compound, as is the smell of skunks which perhaps oddly I have always actually liked (except when it is extremely strong).

Its a relief to know that the urine odor is only caused by sulfur compounds in shiitakes. Perhaps they could also be related to some of their therapeutic benefits? I found one article which states:

Shiitake mushrooms have been found to contain a potent antioxidant, L-ergothioneine.

So in fact there is a thio-compound in shiitakes which is a powerful antioxidant. Another well-known, high-power antioxidant is glutathione, again, a sulfur-containing compound.

I also went and scanned through my 23andme genetic trait results – something which newer members of the site are forbidden from being able to know thanks to the corrupt federal government which, trying to protect the lucrative genetic testing market, has forbidden 23andme from providing newer members. That’s right, its illegal for a US citizen to pay a company to give them information about their own DNA. [By the way, this is exactly the same type of information that Angelina Jolie used to make the courageous health decisions she has made.] Luckily I joined 23andme before this sick ruling by the FDA. 23andme still updates the trait information as new studies come out.

The results state that:

Asparagus Metabolite Detection

Some people are able to detect a distinct smell in their urine after eating asparagus, while other people don’t notice a thing. Those who do catch a whiff liken the smell to rotten or boiling cabbage. The odor is thought to be due to an excreted metabolite called methanethiol, a sulfur-containing compound. Whether smelling the asparagus scent in urine is due to the ability to produce methanethiol, or the ability to detect it, hasn’t quite been figured out yet. Regardless, family-based studies suggest that there is a genetic component to this odd human trait.

and says that, based on my genotype, I have “Moderately higher odds of smelling asparagus in one’s urine”.

UPDATE: Well today at the store bunches of organic asparagus were on sale so I decided to try an experiment. Along with my usual stir-fried tempeh I added three fronds/stalks of asparagus.

Sure enough, later on I noticed an odd odor when I went pee. The odor is more unpleasant than the shiitake one. I actually find it somewhat gross. The shiitake is a lot stronger than what I’ve noticed so far from the asparagus but definitely not as gross.

Its really odd. I wonder how many other people experience this? According to Wikipedia, 22% of people do.