Liver disease and certain metabolic disorders may cause musty-smelling urine.
Liver disease
Infections and diseases of the liver can produce high ammonia levels in the urine and the accompanying pungent odor. Ammonia levels in blood and urine will increase when the liver is not working as it should. Any continued ammonia odor in urine should be checked by a doctor.
Smelling of the breath is common after having certain food or in the morning, but with people suffering from fatty liver conditions, it remains throughout the day. The breath may have a distinct sulfur and musty smell throughout the day. It is an obvious sign of fatty liver disease and should not be ignored.
In the case of liver or kidney disease, your odor may give off a bleach-like smell due to toxin buildup in your body.
Urine that is dark orange, amber, cola-coloured or brown can be a sign of liver disease. The colour is due to too much bilirubin building up because the liver isn't breaking it down normally.
Fatty liver disease: If you notice dark urine and pale poo, seek urgent medical attention.
Urine often has a slight ammonia smell, especially first thing in the morning or when a person is dehydrated. Smelly urine can also be a sign of an infection, however, so if the smell does not go away on its own, or if additional symptoms develop, see a doctor.
One of the peculiar symptoms of the fatty liver disease is having "breath of the dead". Also known as Fetor hepaticus, the breath of the dead is a chronic odour in your breath and can be easily distinguished from your normal breath.
Life Expectancy With Fatty Liver Diseases
People stay healthy despite suffering from the disease following a normal routine. The life expectancy with fatty liver disease decreases from 3 to 4 years because such patients develop other chronic diseases such as cardiovascular or diabetes.
Severely ill patients often have characteristic smells. Patients with diabetic ketoacidosis have the fruity smell of ketones, although a substantial number of people are unable to detect this. Foetor hepaticus is a feature of severe liver disease; a sweet and musty smell both on the breath and in urine.
A bilirubin in urine test is often part of a urinalysis, a test that measures different cells, chemicals, and other substances in your urine (pee). Urinalysis is often used to check your general health. It can also help diagnose liver problems and many other medical conditions.
some people find that their urine smells stronger and is darker first thing in the morning (this is when it's more concentrated, or generally when they're dehydrated) certain food and drinks, including asparagus, beer, garlic and coffee, may temporarily give urine a stronger smell.
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: Cystitis (bladder inflammation)
Replace saturated fats with healthier unsaturated fats, like those in fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts. Eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Avoid foods and drinks with large amounts of sugars, especially fructose. These include sweetened soft drinks, sports drinks, sweetened tea, and juices.
While we are used to soaking liver in vinegar or lemon to get rid of the bad smell and kill any remaining toxins, American and European chefs advise to soak liver in milk. Yes, that's right: Milk!
Other metabolic disorders, like phenylketonuria (also known as PKU), can also influence urine smell. In PKU, a defective gene prevents the breakdown of the amino acid phenylalanine, which builds up and causes musty-smelling breath and urine.
Fatty liver disease is reversible. If you stop drinking alcohol for some time (months or years), your liver should return to normal.
The first stage is referred to as simple fatty liver or steatosis; This occurs when the liver cells start to build-up fat, although there is no inflammation or scarring at this stage. There are often no symptoms in this early stage, so many people are unaware they have a fatty liver.
You should notice your general health and well-being improving when your liver starts to heal. For example, you may notice clearer thinking, more energy, improved appetite, and less pain.