WHAT IS IT?

Fish odour syndrome

This inherited metabolic disorder is triggered by an enzyme deficiency that prevents the breakdown of trimethylamine, a chemical byproduct of protein digestion responsible for the offensive smell associated with decaying fish. As a result, a fishy odour is detected in the urine, sweat and breath. There’s no cure, but symptoms may be reduced with a TMA-free diet which avoids legumes, peanuts, eggs, and certain kinds of fish and meat.