Causes

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Urine consists mainly of water. It's the amount and concentration of various waste products excreted by the kidneys that causes urine odor.

Urine that contains a lot of water and few waste products has little to no odor. If urine becomes highly concentrated — a high level of waste products with little water — your urine may have a strong ammonia odor.

Some foods and medications, such as asparagus or certain vitamins, can cause a noticeable urine odor, even in low concentrations. Sometimes, unusual urine odor indicates a medical condition or disease, such as:

  1. Cystitis (bladder inflammation)
  2. Dehydration (which is when the body doesn't have enough water and other fluids to work properly)
  3. Diabetic ketoacidosis
  4. Gastrointestinal-bladder fistula (abnormal connection between the intestines and bladder)
  5. Maple syrup urine disease (rare genetic condition that becomes apparent during infancy)
  6. Metabolic disorder (a problem with the way your body converts the foods you eat into energy)
  7. Type 2 diabetes (uncontrolled)
  8. Urinary tract infection (UTI)

Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.

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Sept. 21, 2021