Nutritional supplements are a common option for improving your health and wellbeing. It is often employed to provide additional nutrients that are not received from your diet.
More than half of the US adult population reported that they have taken at least one supplement in the past 30 days.
Some supplements like Chondroitinfish oil, and iron can lead to unwanted side effects, including smelly stools (poop).
Supplements that can create a poop smell include chondroitin. Glucosamineiron, and fat-soluble vitamins. This side effect is common in these supplements and is usually not a cause of concern.
Chondroitin and glucosamine
Chondroitin and glucosamine are chemicals found naturally in cartilage and are supportive tissues that protect joints and bones. Supplement forms can be useful in treating pain and inflammation caused by osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis.
Chondroitin and glucosamine contain sulfates. In the intestine, bacteria help convert sulfate salts into sulfide gas. This causes dirty odors during intestinal movement and flatulence (transporting gas). Hydrogen sulfide is a sulfide gas that causes the smell of “rotten eggs.”
Taking chondroitin or glucosamine increases the amount of sulfate, increases the amount of sulfide gas in the intestine, and gives off a poop smell.
Fish oil
Fish oil and omega-3 fatty acids are popular supplements for conditions such as inflammation and heart disease.
Fish oil supplements can cause Fatosispoop can smell like fish and look oily. Fat is the presence of fatty oils in the stool. It happens when your body is unable to break down or digest fatty oils. The oil then moves your body and remains in the poop.
Poo oil can make it look pale, loose (similar to diarrhea), and stink. Bad odors come from fatty oils combined with other products in the gastrointestinal tract.
Garlic
Garlic is a common ingredient in many meals and dishes. It can also be considered a supplement to treat conditions such as high cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
The distinctive smell of garlic comes from sulfur-containing compounds such as allicin. This is released when garlic tissue is cut or crushed. These sulfur and sulfide gases can also cause odorous feces. Eating garlic as a diet or supplement can lead to this side effect.
iron
Iron supplements can help treat and prevent anemia (low levels of red blood cells). Most prenatal multivitamins contain iron, which helps support the growth and development of the fetus.
Iron supplements can cause poop to smell like metal. Iron generally contains sulfides. Sulfides can smell like “rotten eggs” in their feces. This is a common and expected side effect of iron. Taking iron can also make your poop look dark green or almost black.
Fat soluble vitamins
Vitamins are considered water or fat-soluble, based on how the body absorbs and removes them. Fat soluble vitamins containing a, d, e, and k help with vision, immune function and bone health. Supplements can help you increase your levels of these vitamins.
Like other fats, your body may not absorb fat-soluble vitamins completely, and fatty oils are present in poop. Like fish oil supplements, this can make your poop smell pale and odour.
Supplements can smell your poop for many reasons, including:
- Ingredients found in supplements
- Supplements and other medications, supplements, or food combinations
- Bacterial changes in the intestine and intestine
- Supplements have prevented your body from properly absorbing nutrients
When taking supplements that affect the smell of your poop, you may experience other gastrointestinal side effects. These include:
- Dark or different coloured poop
- constipation
- bloating
- Bloody stomach
- diarrhea
- heartburn
- Stomach pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Smelling breathing such as sweat or urine, body odor, or smelly body fluids (pee)
Odor sluts can be a short-term problem or a sign of serious health concerns. If you start experiencing any of the following signs or symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider:
- Stool or black blood, tally stool
- Obviously oily stool
- Poo pain
- Changes in size and shape of stool
- Changes in frequency of bowel movements
- Fever, chills, night sweats
- Unintended weight loss
If you start experiencing stinks or similar symptoms, follow the symptoms. Write down changes in your bowel movements, the appearance of your feces, the food you eat, and the medications and supplements you are taking. This can be useful information for healthcare providers.
Talk to your provider about the supplements you are taking. If you start to experience unnecessary symptoms, it will help you determine whether the supplement is the cause and whether you should stop stopping it.
If you notice any odors that don’t have other serious side effects, there are treatment options that you can try at home. Instead of stopping supplements, consider the following treatment or changes:
- Dietary changes: Your diet can have a big impact on the smell of your poop. Avoid or reduce the intake of high sulfate foods, such as meat, seafood, broccoli, kale, dairy products, alcohol, processed foods, and certain sugars. These can cause your poop to smell like rotten eggs. Food intolerances such as lactose intolerance and gluten sensitivity can also cause odorous feces.
- Drink more water: Dehydration causes the body to absorb water from the poop and dry the stool with the smell of the stool.
- Take Prebiotics: Recovering healthy bacteria in your gut can help to improve odorous feces. Probiotics are available through supplements and foods such as yogurt, kefir and fermented vegetables.
Nutritional supplements such as chondroitin, glucosamine, fish oil, and iron can cause side effects such as odorous feces and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
Changes in your diet, drink water, or take probiotics can also help limit these symptoms.
If you start to experience unwanted symptoms like stinky feces, your health care provider will help you decide whether the supplement is causing it and whether you should stop stopping it.
