How to Live With Fish Odor Syndrome

Fish odor syndrome, also called trimethylaminuria or TMAU, is a rare genetic disease in which the body cannot break down trimethylamine that is naturally consumed in the diet. People who are afflicted with TMAU produce an offensive body odor that is released through their sweat, urine and breath that smells like rotting eggs, garbage, feces, urine or rotting fish. Presently there are no known cures or for TMAU, but it is still possible for people who are afflicted to live relatively normal lives.

Instructions

• 1

  Avoid foods that exacerbate TMAU, such as eggs, legumes, fish oil supplements, organ meats, soy products and any food rich in choline or lecithin.

• 2

  Ask your doctor about whether a low dose of antibiotics might help your condition. Low doses of antibiotics reduce the amount of bacteria in the digestive tract.

• 3

  Try mild laxatives, such a Metamucil, to decrease the time stool spends in the colon, giving it less time to react with the bacteria there.

• 4

  Use soaps that are moderate in pH--between 5.5 and 6.5. This will tend to react to the higher-pH chemical that causes the odor, neutralizing it on the skin.

• 5

  Try supplements, as recommended by the National Human Genome Research Institute: You can try: activated charcoal, 750 mg, twice daily for ten days; copper chlorophyllin, 60 mg, three times a day for three weeks; or riboflavin, 30 to 40 mg, three times a day with food.

• 6

  Attend a TMAU support group -- because it's a rare condition, you might have most luck searching for an online group.