Body Odor: Supplements & Foods That May Help, or Make It Worse

Medically reviewed and edited by Tod Cooperman, M.D.

Written by Meredith A. Worthington, Ph.D.

Updated September 21, 2023 ⓘ

Woman holding her nose and pointing to a man with body odor

Answer:

Body odor typically occurs when sweat proteins on the skin surface are broken down by skin bacteria, which can release an odor. Adequate personal hygiene can usually keep this type of body odor under control (Pastor, Nurse Pract 2012). However, some people with adequate personal hygiene still experience persistent body odor. Body odor can be affected by other factors including diet, gender, genetics, and use of certain supplements and medications.

Sign in as a member for information about supplements that might help improve body odor in some people and learn about supplements or foods that might worsen body odor. Ingredients discussed include acetyl-L-carnitine, activated charcoal, champignon extract, choline, copper chlorophyllin, L-carnitine, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), and garlic, as well as meat consumption. Also find out which prescription medications can cause body odor.

Be aware that body odor can also be a symptom of various diseases. For example, liver disease can cause an ammonia odor, and diabetic ketoacidosis can lead to fruit odor. Other conditions linked with body odor include Parkinson's disease, kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, menopause, gastrointestinal disorders, and many others (Pastor, Nurse Pract 2012). Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing noticeable body odor that is not controlled with adequate personal hygiene.

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4 Comments

Sean20530

August 28, 2024

I had issues with gas and loose stools (think long term Adderall was a factor but can't prove either way). Gastro doc told me to take any regular brand probiotic. It helped a lot.
Later taking amino acid supplements with hydrolyzed essential amino acids and/ or hydrolyzed collagen peptides even at half the labels dose made me very gassy. Unabsorbed proteins, peptides, amino acids ferment in the colon creating gas.

I ate some food with them to slow down speed through my digestive track. Plus 1 or 2 gasex softgels. Which helped a lot with gas and assume greatly increase absorption which is a great benefit.

It is recommended to take amino acids, hydrolyzed protein and collagen on an empty stomach. If it makes you gassy you may need to improve gut health and flora (pro/pre biotics and right amount of fiber). Still, some may benefit from taking supplements with food to slow down travel time and allow more absorption.

Currently I take 2 medications that slow down digestive travel time and delay gastric emptying. Now gas isn't an issue.

Still don't know why my lactose intolerance improved as as far as I know you don't gain back lost lactase enzyme production once you have lost it. May need to see where it is released in the gut and figure it out from there with travel time as a factor.

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Sean20529

August 28, 2024

I had a strong body odor that switched between ammonia and vinegar. Plus excess sweating. Smell stayed in my shirts and was difficult to get out. Turned out to be uncontrolled diabetes. Which I assumed I didn't have due to a recent blood test and my endocrinologist would have told me if I did. He forgot to look and I was and didn't get diagnosed for another 2 years. Ketosis caused by type II diabetes insulin resistance which did hit dehydration induced ketoasidosis a few times working in my attic. Symptoms then I thought were heat stroke and going inside with A/C and drinking water solved it. But, my body temp was only 2 degrees above my usual when it happened,
Primary doctor did not know about ammonia or vinegar smelling sweat so no help there till a year later when I took a blood test for other reasons. Then went back and checked my endos blood test. Seeing he missed the diagnosis.
Key point, be proactive and don't assume doctors are always right. When one doesn't help, keep trying till one can. They are still human and not robots after all.

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