Protein in urine (proteinuria) doesn't have a distinct smell but can make urine foamy or frothy, and the smell might be described as like ammonia, especially if combined with dehydration or bacterial growth (like a UTI), or even sweet/fruity (ketones from a high-protein diet or diabetes) or like chicken broth, but these odors often stem from causes related to kidney stress, not just the protein itself, requiring a doctor's visit if persistent.
When your kidneys have more severe damage and you have high levels of protein in your urine, you may start to notice symptoms such as: Foamy, frothy or bubbly urine. Swelling in your hands, feet, belly or face. Urinating more often.
Foul-smelling urine may be due to bacteria. Sweet-smelling urine may be a sign of uncontrolled diabetes or a rare disease of metabolism. Liver disease and certain metabolic disorders may cause musty-smelling urine.
But the food isn't the only one to cause a switch, Dr. Movassaghi says. Garlic—which also contains sulfur— and high protein diets can also change pee aroma, as well as fenugreek, Brussels sprouts and curry.
Additionally, if you follow a high protein diet, your body relies on protein and stored fat for energy instead of carbohydrates. This increases the production of ketones, which can make your pee smell sweet.
Increased protein might be a sign that your kidneys are being damaged. You can buy a simple test kit with urine testing strips at most pharmacies and drugstores. To test your urine each day, dip a urine testing strip into a fresh sample of your urine. Follow the instructions on the kit.
Kidney failure can make urine smell strongly of ammonia or have a fishy odor, often due to built-up waste products (amines) or infection, signaling concentrated urine from dehydration or kidney dysfunction. Other signs alongside bad-smelling urine include foamy, bloody, or cola-colored urine, swelling, fatigue, and changes in urination, all pointing to potential kidney issues that require a doctor's evaluation.
You should worry about urine smell and see a doctor if it's persistent, accompanied by fever, pain/burning during urination, cloudy or bloody urine, or if it smells sweet (potential diabetes) or rotten (potential infection/kidney stones). While often temporary due to dehydration or food, persistent strong or unusual odors, especially with other symptoms, warrant medical attention to rule out UTIs, diabetes, or other conditions.
One sign that you possibly have diabetes or high blood sugar is urine that smells sweet or fruity. The sweetness comes from sugar in your urine and is a sign your body is trying to get rid of extra sugar in your blood.
Usually there are no symptoms for proteinuria. If the protein loss is heavy, urine can have a frothy appearance, and would most likely be associated with other symptoms e.g. oedema, where there is an excess of water in the body tissues.
Liver disease can make urine smell musty, sweet, or like ammonia due to the buildup of toxins (like dimethyl disulfide/methyl mercaptan) that the failing liver can't process, leading to a specific scent known as foetor hepaticus, often accompanied by dark urine and jaundice. This ammonia-like odor comes from excess urea breakdown, while a sweet smell can also signal uncontrolled diabetes, so a medical evaluation is crucial.
It's normal to have a small amount of sugar in your pee. But if urine (pee) test results show more than 0.25 mg/ml of glucose, that's glycosuria. Sometimes, glycosuria is a symptom of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). But it can also happen in people with normal or low blood sugar levels.
Sometimes you can sniff out a UTI. Often, your urine has a foul smell when you have a bacterial infection of the urinary tract. For some women with mild infections, strong smelling urine may be the only symptom. Put your nose to the test next time you suspect that you have a UTI and see if you can detect a strong odor.
Foul-smelling pee can be a sign of a bacterial infection, such as a urinary tract infection. Musty-smelling urine can indicate liver disease or certain metabolic disorders.
Most changes in urine odor are temporary and don't mean you have a serious illness, particularly if you have no other symptoms. When an unusual urine odor is caused by an underlying medical condition, there are other symptoms too. If you're concerned about the odor of your urine, talk to your doctor.
Patients affected by trimethylaminuria will often have fishy-smelling urine. Trimethylaminuria is a genetic disorder in which affected individuals have an enzymatic deficiency that makes them unable to metabolize TMA. Because they cannot metabolize TMA, affected individuals have a buildup of TMA in their bodies.
If your kidneys aren't working properly, you may notice one or more of the following signs:
Rarely, people can have bad breath because of organ failure. A person with kidney failure may have breath that smells like ammonia or urine. Serious liver disease can make breath smell musty or like garlic and rotten eggs. Compounds that are transported through the blood can also be released through your sweat glands.
Bladder infection. Cystitis (irritation of the bladder) Dehydration — when the body doesn't have enough water and other fluids to work as it should. Diabetic ketoacidosis (in which the body has high levels of blood acids called ketones)
Protein in your urine (proteinuria) can be a sign that protein is getting past your kidneys' filtration system and leaving your body in your pee. It can make your pee look foamy or bubbly. Kidney disease, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, preeclampsia and other serious conditions can cause it.
You can also purchase at-home protein urine tests at most pharmacies.
The 5 key warning signs of a bladder infection (Urinary Tract Infection or UTI) are: pain/burning during urination, frequent/urgent need to pee (even with little output), cloudy/bloody/strong-smelling urine, lower belly/pelvic pressure, and feeling like your bladder isn't empty, with fever or back pain signaling a more serious kidney infection, requiring immediate medical attention.
Could It Be Something Else?
Certain foods.
Different strongly-scented foods, such as brussels sprouts, asparagus, onions, and garlic, can make strong-smelling or foul-smelling urine. These types of foods are converted into sulfur compounds which can smell like rotten cabbage or eggs.