The ammoniacal smell of sweat may depend on a gastric infection from the bacterium Helicobacter pylori .
We recall that this bacterium is one of the major defendants in the development of peptic ulcer, in addition to being the main cause of chronic gastritis in humans.
The unique ability of Helicobacter pylori to colonize the acidic environment of the stomach is largely due to its ability to synthesize the enzyme urease. This enzyme is able to hydrolyze urea into ammonia, which neutralizes gastric acidity thus creating a microenvironment favorable to the development of the bacterium.
The ammonia produced by Helicobacter Pylori is then absorbed at the gastro-intestinal level â † 'especially in case of poor liver function, it is possible to have a significant increase in the ammonia present in the blood â †' the high plasma ammonia levels they increase the concentration of the substance in the sweat, making it take an unpleasant ammoniac scent.
Even a high- protein diet can be associated with an ammoniacal body odor. Similar to what we have seen for Helicobacter Pylori, in fact, even the metabolism of excess proteins produces a large amount of ammonia, then converted into urea at the liver level to be eliminated by the kidneys (in which an additional elimination system is active). ammonia incorporated in glutamine).
If ammonia synthesis is abundant - especially when the liver and / or kidneys are overloaded - this substance increases its concentrations in plasma and sweat, making it take on an ammoniacal smell.
