Sweat Smell of Ammonia??

[Mongo]

It started about 3-4 weeks ago and i have no clue why. Its not to bad some days, but some days are pretty bad. It only starts smelling in the gym?? I drink over a gallon of water a day. During my workouts, i drink water with 1 scoop of Gadorate, along with 5g of creatine and glutamine. I also wear a hoodie in the gym. Any clue on what i can do to stop the smell?

[Colossal]

Ammonia (NH3) is a nitrogen breakdown product of amino acids in the body. This happens when nitrogen atoms are stripped off of amino acids to be used in glucose production; in lieu of fats or carbohydrates, which the body will preferentially use first. The by-product of this is urea, which is processed in the kidneys for excretion. When your kidneys cant handle the load of urea you are creating, it will be excreted as ammonia in the sweat. It is a waste product and has to go some way!

The best way to avert this is to be sure you have enough carbohydrate fuel for your exercise. Those who eliminate carbs from their diet are setting themselves up for 'ammonia sweating'. I would say have a good pre-workout meal with complex carbs, or add in some waxy maize during your workout. Also post-workout consume some carbs and fat.

[RDFinders]

Ammonia (NH3) is a nitrogen breakdown product of amino acids in the body. This happens when nitrogen atoms are stripped off of amino acids to be used in glucose production; in lieu of fats or carbohydrates, which the body will preferentially use first. The by-product of this is urea, which is processed in the kidneys for excretion. When your kidneys cant handle the load of urea you are creating, it will be excreted as ammonia in the sweat. It is a waste product and has to go some way!

The best way to avert this is to be sure you have enough carbohydrate fuel for your exercise. Those who eliminate carbs from their diet are setting themselves up for 'ammonia sweating'. I would say have a good pre-workout meal with complex carbs, or add in some waxy maize during your workout. Also post-workout consume some carbs and fat.

that is interesting reading, but ammonia production actually occurs from transamination/deamination of amino acids. happens whether carbs/fats are present in the diet in adequate amounts or not. any protein that is not used by the body will be disposed of. the liver actually takes the amine groups and packages them into urea for the kidneys. i would venture to say that the ammonia smell he is getting from his sweat is from protein overload on his body.

[Colossal]

Interesting. I took the above advice from a physician's column in a runner's magazine. However his advice was specific to runners, so that would make sense why he suggested the smell is from proteolysis rather than protein surplus. Let me also correct myself in saying urea is excreted in sweat, not ammonia.

[Mongo]

So its my body saying i don't need the 350-400g of protein im giving it every day? Ive been eating this way for the last year and it only started now. I do get really hungry in the gym sometimes and most of the time i dont have a decent carb before going to the gym.

[Abraxas]

It seems your kidneys are having a hard time processing the protein.

So im guessing your not drinking enough,make sure your urine is always light yellowish.

It should become less,or dissapear entirely.

Also eat some carbs before you workout to prevent this from happening.

[RDFinders]

Interesting. I took the above advice from a physician's column in a runner's magazine. However his advice was specific to runners, so that would make sense why he suggested the smell is from proteolysis rather than protein surplus. Let me also correct myself in saying urea is excreted in sweat, not ammonia.

gotcha colossal. runners do not eat enough protein for their recovery and they don't think they need to build any muscle. adding some muscle can improve their performance, but they shy away from protein. i trained a tri-athlete and she was amazed at how much protein i added to her diet and decreased her carb intake. and her energy was still good and her stamina didn't go down. and colossal - you can still excrete ammonia in your sweat if your liver is having a hard time processing all the amino acids. usually a sign that something is not right.

[Abraxas]

gotcha colossal. runners do not eat enough protein for their recovery and they don't think they need to build any muscle. adding some muscle can improve their performance, but they shy away from protein. i trained a tri-athlete and she was amazed at how much protein i added to her diet and decreased her carb intake. and her energy was still good and her stamina didn't go down. and colossal - you can still excrete ammonia in your sweat if your liver is having a hard time processing all the amino acids. usually a sign that something is not right.

yup your right,lets hope this is not the case here.

[RDFinders]

yup your right,lets hope this is not the case here.

no kidding. we do enough to our bodies in this sport without screwing up our livers and kidneys.

[MacFlashGordon]

The ammonia 'whiff' has accompanied me in the gym at times too but its very intermittent AND occurs more often than not following a punishing night on the tiles. I'd like to think its due to dehydration rather than something wrong.

[RDFinders]

you must be consuming buckloads of protein for slight dehydration to cause the smell.

[MacFlashGordon]

That's the thing - I don't. Thanks for the comments RD and for starting the thread too Mongo.

[Mongo]

I haven't smelt it in almost a week now. I think it was the low carb before work out and wearing my favorite shirt and the smell stayed. I only smell it when i wear that shirt, when it get all sweaty.

[-BLP-]

probiotics ,,,

[SUMO]

You ever have your blood sugar tested? A lot of diabetics, when not taking their insulin also emit an "ammonia" type smell.