throop@cs.utexas.edu (David Throop) (11/03/90)
Bill Ellis asked about adultrants in candy that turn urine blue. Several other posters said that methylene blue will do this. I have also heard that an herb called bearberry has a similar effect. Can anybody confirm? David Throop
larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman) (11/23/90)
In article <999@ai.cs.utexas.edu>, throop@cs.utexas.edu (David Throop) writes: > Bill Ellis asked about adultrants in candy that turn urine blue. > Several other posters said that methylene blue will do this. Yup, it sure will. > I have also heard that an herb called bearberry has a similar effect. > Can anybody confirm? Bearberry (uva ursis - what *else* would you call it in Latin ? :-)) contains tannic acid, gallic acid and a gluco[pyrano]side called arbutin. Arbutin and/or its metabolic decomposition product results in green urine. Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp. "Have you hugged your cat today?" VOICE: 716/688-1231 {boulder, rutgers, watmath}!ub!kitty!larry FAX: 716/741-9635 {utzoo, uunet}!/ \aerion!larry
msgctr@calmasd.Prime.COM (Message Center) (11/28/90)
So bright, it looks like the soda Mountain Dew... Of course, it only looks like that after I've taken my vitamin packet... Quick too, take vitamins at 8:00 by 9:30 urine is already in the running for most flourescent... Is it possible, if I was totally emaciated, starved and sick, that the urine wouldn't get so yellow? Birny
wjwhite@well.sf.ca.us (Bill White) (11/29/90)
larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman) writes: >In article <999@ai.cs.utexas.edu>, throop@cs.utexas.edu (David Throop) writes: >> Bill Ellis asked about adultrants in candy that turn urine blue. >> Several other posters said that methylene blue will do this. > Yup, it sure will. >> I have also heard that an herb called bearberry has a similar effect. >> Can anybody confirm? > Bearberry (uva ursis - what *else* would you call it in Latin ? :-)) >contains tannic acid, gallic acid and a gluco[pyrano]side called arbutin. >Arbutin and/or its metabolic decomposition product results in green urine. I'm surprised I haven't seen anyone comment on the OTHER effect of diet on urine: namely, asparagus. I'm not sure of the biomedical logistics, but I know from experience that some of us have a problem digesting that wonderful, lovely, fruit-of-the-earth, on account of the dreadful odor it imparts to one's urine. I'm told this effect is harmless, that it is genetic and results from the inability of some people to produce a certain enzyme (l-asparaginase, if I remember rightly). I'd almost be curious to take a poll here of how many of us know just what I'm talking about and how many don't and I'd appreciate a more detailed explana- tion of this phenomenon from the medical types amongst us. Bill White wjwhite@well.sf.ca.us
campbell@acsu.buffalo.edu (roger campbell) (11/29/90)
In article <21862@well.sf.ca.us> wjwhite@well.sf.ca.us (Bill White) writes: > >I'm surprised I haven't seen anyone comment on the OTHER effect of diet on >urine: namely, asparagus. I'm not sure of the biomedical logistics, but I know >from experience that some of us have a problem digesting that wonderful, lovely, >fruit-of-the-earth, on account of the dreadful odor it imparts to one's urine. >I'm told this effect is harmless, that it is genetic and results from the >inability of some people to produce a certain enzyme (l-asparaginase, if I >remember rightly). > >I'd almost be curious to take a poll here of how many of us know just what I'm >talking about and how many don't and I'd appreciate a more detailed explana- >tion of this phenomenon from the medical types amongst us. > >Bill White >wjwhite@well.sf.ca.us ------------------------------------------------------------------- I certainly know what you're talking about. It takes only about 15-20 minutes before that odor would be present. I don't think I would classify it as "dreadful", but it certainly is strong, and distinctive. ------------------------------------------------------ ..There is no indigestion worse than that which comes from having to eat your own words. Roger Campbell State Univ. of New York at Buffalo (716) 636-3547 BITNET: CAMPBELL@UBVM INTERNET: campbell@acsu.buffalo.edu
larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman) (12/02/90)
In article <21862@well.sf.ca.us>, wjwhite@well.sf.ca.us (Bill White) writes: > I'm surprised I haven't seen anyone comment on the OTHER effect of diet on > urine: namely, asparagus. I'm not sure of the biomedical logistics, but I > know from experience that some of us have a problem digesting that wonderful, > lovely, fruit-of-the-earth, on account of the dreadful odor it imparts > to one's urine. I'm told this effect is harmless, that it is genetic and > results from the inability of some people to produce a certain enzyme > (l-asparaginase, if I remember rightly). > > I'd almost be curious to take a poll here of how many of us know just what I'm > talking about and how many don't and I'd appreciate a more detailed explana- > tion of this phenomenon from the medical types amongst us. I do know what you are referring to, but in an indirect manner as related by others. Since I do not eat asparagus, I have no firsthand knowledge of the "effect". :-) The odor-producing substances excreted in the urine are believed to be a mixture of methanethiol (similar to ethanethiol, used as an odorizer for natural gas) and an amine derived from asparagine and succinic acid. I believe that the precursor of the odor-producing substances found in asparagus is not the amino acid asparagine per se, but is some thio derivative of the amino acid methionine. There have been papers written on this topic (check Index Medicus), but I have not read them. Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp. "Have you hugged your cat today?" VOICE: 716/688-1231 {boulder, rutgers, watmath}!ub!kitty!larry FAX: 716/741-9635 {utzoo, uunet}!/ \aerion!larry
dave@convex.csd.uwm.edu (David A Rasmussen) (12/05/90)
From article <21862@well.sf.ca.us>, by wjwhite@well.sf.ca.us (Bill White): > > I'd almost be curious to take a poll here of how many of us get asparagus urine. Ok, put me down for a yes. Speaking of blue urine, if you eat enough blueberries, does the other human waste turn a shade of blue as well? -- Dave Rasmussen - Systems Programmer/Manager, UW-Milwaukee Computing Svcs Div. Internet:dave@uwm.edu, Uucp:uwm!dave, Bitnet:dave%uwm.edu@INTERBIT AT&T:414-229-5133 USmail:Box 413 EMS380,Milwaukee,WI 53201
grm+@andrew.cmu.edu (Gretchen Miller) (12/07/90)
>Speaking of blue urine, if you eat enough blueberries, does the other human >waste turn a shade of blue as well? I don't know about blueberries, but beets will turn both types of waste a rusty red. gretchen miller grm+@andrew.cmu.edu
rlp@beach.cis.ufl.edu (Trouble) (12/10/90)
In article <4212@kitty.UUCP> larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman) writes: >In article <21862@well.sf.ca.us>, wjwhite@well.sf.ca.us (Bill White) writes: >> to one's urine. I'm told this effect is harmless, that it is genetic and >> results from the inability of some people to produce a certain enzyme >> (l-asparaginase, if I remember rightly). I recall reading somewhere (how wonderfully specific of me, huh?!) that the speed with which this effect is noticed is indicative of how well your kidneys are working. That is, if your kidneys are working well, you'll notice the smell very quickly. >> I'd almost be curious to take a poll here of how many of us know just what I'm >> talking about and how many don't and I'd appreciate a more detailed explana- Anybody else notice this effect from tomato-based spaghetti sauce? Bob -- rlp@beach.cis.ufl.edu Air: PP-SEL AMA # 541283 Road: 750 Ninja DoD # 0068 Water: NAUI OW-I <=- -=>