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Fish odor syndrome – A rare metabolic condition that makes sweat smell like fish

Patients with trimethylaminuria, or "fish odor syndrome," make too much of a chemical with a strong fishy smell.

Affected populations: TMAU is a rare metabolic condition that causes a person to smell like rotten fish. The condition is more common in women than in men, and there's evidence that female sex hormones, such as progesterone, can exacerbate patients' symptoms. It can also result from liver failure and certain medical treatments, such as testosterone replacement therapy, which impact the processing and production of trimethylamine, respectively.

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