Some people complain of having a rotten egg body odor at times
Quite often a common odor complaint (amongst many) in our community is of rotten egg, which would seem to make the chief suspect compound Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)
Quite often a common odor complaint (amongst many) in our community is of rotten egg, which would seem to make the chief suspect compound Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S). H2S has received interest in certain medical research areas, since it has over the last decade become a suspect factor in bowel conditions such as 'inflammatory bowel disease' and 'ulcerative colitis'. A candidate gut bacteria for production of H2S in the gut has been the 'sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB)' bacteria. It has also recently been suggested in recent years that humans also produce H2S as a 'gasotransmitter' in their systemic internal system (endogenously), for some purpose.
So that makes 2 possible sources of H2S in humans. This new paper looks more at the SRB as the source of H2S, and it's possible role in disorders that effect/defect the colon.
Sulfate Reducing Bacteria in the colon
For people who can emit a rotten egg smell through their pores (and therefore systemic), it is still not known if this rotten egg smell would be H2S and where the source was from. It would be feasible it may be from an abnormal growth of SRB in the colon but then most people who are prone to a rotten egg smell do not have ulcerative colitis (UC) and probably 99.99% of people with UC do not smell of rotten egg through the skin
So, nothing new can be deduced from the new paper on H2S in connection with smelling of rotten egg, but of course H2S still cannot be ruled out as the compound that causes some people to smell of rotten egg and times, and where the H2S is sourced from.
New Medical Paper about the emerging role of H2S in the colon
2003 paper suggesting H2S as a human 'gasotransmitter'
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6 comments:
From time to time I have a terribly powerful smell of Hydrogen sulfide that emits from my nose (not my mouth). It lasts for only a few seconds - but that has proven to be long enough to ruin my social reputation. Also, a much milder nasal malodor is often present when the extreme hydrogen sulfide odor is not. Anyway, I have been researching poor sulfur oxidation - but so far no answers. I did find this on the web however: "From Brain to Gut," by H. Kimura, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan. kimura@ncnp.go.jp
His paper indicates that humans make hydrogen sulfide in the body, including somewhat high (but apparently not dangerous)concentrations of hydrogen sulfide in the brain. Cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS),Mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3MST), and Cysteine aminotransferase (CAT) are all H(2)S producing enzymes in the human body. The researcher indicates that they serve to protect neurons and cardiac muscle from oxidative stress, and also provide anti-inflammatory effects and regulatory function of insulin release.
My question is whether or not my case is related to excess H2S being released through my nose. I had taken a very high precursor load of Lysine (this turns into Carnitine) for weeks before this nasal malodor happened to me. It has been almost three years now and the condition has not gotten better. The H2S odor only eminates from my nose.. If I mouth breathe, no one around me complains. They complain only when I breathe normally through my nose. Drier, low humidity conditions appear to alleviate (help) my condition. I wonder if any one else is experiencing something similar to what I am going through.
Hi Anonymous,
Thank you for your very informative post. Your nasal hydrogen sulfide odor is not uncommon not only in halitosis sufferers, but also in persons who suffer from full body odor. It is one volatile organic compound (VOC) that MEBO Research is most interested in initiating researching on. Our attention is on the Alveolar Breath Test, which initially will not be looking for localized oral/nasal odor, but rather will analyze numerous potential metabolic disorders that produce many VOCs. As noted on our Update dated Friday, December 2nd, 2011, our initial research study test will identify 60% of the volatile organic compounds in the list, found in this post, that we provided Menssana Research. There is a good chance that this test will be fine-tuned as we go along to include smaller sulfide and other odorous molecules. We are limited by the cost of these tests, but wtih our very proactive grant-writing campaign, we hope to get funds as we go along to help us research much deeper into all the VOCs that show up elevated in our studies of sufferers' alveolar breath. MEBO Research was created with absolutely no money, and we are most fortunate to be able to be moving toward research studies in 2012 with the very strong support of our community. We at MEBO are particularly interested in the H(2)S producing metabolic enzymes you mention above.
What has become of this research it is 2014 and I'm suffering from this rotten egg smell. It's a random odor that comes from me as if I have just passed wind. I don't really know where it's coming from. I have stomach issues too so I assume the colon or stomach. I've been doing everything. I've had so much testing and there has been no real progress. I get a flatulence odor in my nose at times too. I need help please please please please please. I'm only 22 and I'm a researcher in a microlab and I'm a biochem major in my senior year as an undergrad. This problem is ruining my life.
I am having same problem with bad odor coming from nose when breathing. I am looking at low acid levels in stomach and seem to be having some success with HCL with Pepsin. It may be that this smell is eminating from my stomach because it doesn't have enough acid to break down food. The food just seems to lay there and rot.
I am also having smells from my nose. 8 have no diagnosed digestive problems. The smells I emit varies from sewage to cabbage to vomit and very strong perfume. Other people can smell it. The smells come and go. It all started about 2 years ago.