Tag: Fmo3 gene

Trimethylaminuria (TMAU), an uncommon metabolic disorder, causes a strong body odor described as smelling like rotten fish or garbage. Often referred to as 'the smelly person syndrome' in colloquial terms, this genetic condition results from the body's inability to properly break down a chemical compound called trimethylamine (TMA).

While body odor is commonly linked to the interaction of sweat and skin bacteria, some cases are caused by metabolic disorders where the body is unable to break down certain chemical compounds. Learning what chemical imbalance causes body odor can be the first step toward effective management and treatment.