Gastroenterologist Zheng Hongzhi pointed out that the smell of stool not only reflects different intestinal health conditions, but may even be one of the earliest warning signs of the body. If the smell changes significantly and lasts for several days, it is recommended to seek medical treatment to find out the cause; situational photo. (Picture taken from freepik)
[Health Channel/Comprehensive Report]Many people only pay attention to the color or shape when defecating, but ignore the changes in the smell of stool. Gastroenterologist Zheng Hongzhi pointed out that the smell of stool not only reflects different intestinal health conditions, but may even be one of the earliest warning signs of the body. Research has also found that different gastrointestinal diseases may produce different combinations of fecal gases, and fecal odor may even appear earlier than abnormal symptoms. In terms of four common odors, black stool is accompanied by a rusty or fishy smell, which may be related to gastric ulcers; oil consumption smell, strong rancid smell is accompanied by grease residue and floating stool, and attention should be paid to whether there are any abnormalities in the pancreas, liver and gallbladder.
Zheng Hongzhi posted on the Facebook fan page “Your Gastroenterologist Zheng Hongzhi Internal Medicine Chronic Disease” that according to a study published in the international medical and biological journal “The FASEB Journal”, the smell of feces actually comes from a type of gas called “volatile organic compounds” (VOCs). These gases are produced by intestinal bacteria during the digestion process, such as hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg smell), methane, ammonia, etc. Research has also found that each gastrointestinal disease may produce a different combination of gases. These gases are like odor fingerprints, which can reflect the health of the intestines in advance and may even appear earlier than symptoms.
Zheng Hongzhi further explained that different poop smells may correspond to different gastrointestinal problems, and listed the following four common abnormal smells and possible hidden diseases:
Black stool accompanied by a rusty or fishy smell
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This type of abnormal odor is closely related to upper gastrointestinal bleeding. When the stomach or duodenum bleeds, the blood will be decomposed by gastric acid and digestive juices, releasing an obvious rusty or fishy smell. At the same time, the color of the stool will also turn black and tarry due to the oxidation of heme. Common causes include: gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, gastric bleeding, etc.
Oil consumption, rancid smell accompanied by grease and floating feces
It usually represents abnormal fat digestion and absorption, which may be related to insufficient secretion of pancreatic juice, such as chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic tumors; or abnormal bile discharge, such as gallstones, biliary obstruction, abnormal hepatobiliary function, etc. Because the fat is not effectively decomposed and emulsified, the stool produces a smell of oil consumption or a strong putrid smell.
Abnormal feces with fermented sour smell and bubbles
This poop odor is often caused by an imbalance of intestinal bacteria. When bad bacteria proliferate and good bacteria decrease, the food in the intestines may undergo abnormal fermentation and release a large amount of acidic gas, making the bowel movements pungent, sour and even bubbly. Common causes include: irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), insufficient probiotic intake, and long-term stress or work schedule imbalance.
Rotten egg odor accompanied by soft or mushy stools
It is common in people who eat a high-protein diet, such as those who consume a lot of meat, eggs, dairy products or protein powder. Under this diet, intestinal bacteria decompose a large amount of sulfur-containing amino acids and release more hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) gas, thus forming a distinct rotten egg smell and making the stool smell stronger.
Zheng Hongzhi pointed out that if the abnormal stool smell is only occasional, it may be related to diet; if the smell changes significantly and lasts for more than a few days, especially if it is accompanied by other symptoms such as black stool, oily stool, abdominal pain or weight loss, it is recommended to seek medical advice as soon as possible to find out the cause.
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