Vino wrote:
> What is the chemical that is formed by the metabolism of some
> component of asparagus that one detects by smell while engaging in a
> perfectly natural act several hours after eating that food? Is it
> related to any other chemical compound?

Dimethyl sulfide, a substance not entirely unrelated to hydrogen sulfide
(the rotten egg smell). For many years, it was believed that not
everyone excreted it after eating asparagus, as some percentage of
people reported no detectable smell in their urine. Later on, it was
established that the only significant difference was that those who
couldn't smell it were remarkably insensitive to the smell of dimethyl
sulfide -- lucky dogs! ;-)

Mark Lipton