Causes And Risk Factors Of Trimethylaminuria

Increase In Bacteria Producing Trimethylamine

It's normal for the intestinal flora, or bacteria that reside in a person's intestines, to produce trimethylamine. It's not a problem for normal individuals. Their bodies have the enzyme that breaks the compound down before it can get into the sweat, urine, and breath to create the characteristic foul body odor of trimethylaminuria. Friendly gut bacteria are necessary to keep the microbiome balanced. The microbiome is the technical term for the microorganisms present in the intestinal environment of an individual. Some individuals may be more prone to an increase in bacteria producing trimethylamine in their particular microbiome. The microbiome has many vital functions, including the production of vitamin K. The microbiome also helps control and suppress any overpopulation of pathogenic bacteria. It's not pathogenic for an individual's microbiome to contribute to an increase in bacteria producing trimethylamine, but the resulting odor is foul. Antibiotic therapy to reduce all bacterial populations is helpful for many patients with trimethylaminuria. Laxatives that speed fecal transit times will also help some patients with body odor reduction.

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