What characteristic smell in urine could indicate methionine malabsorption?

The characteristic smell in urine that could indicate methionine malabsorption is cabbage-like. This specific odor is typically associated with the presence of sulfur-containing compounds, including those derived from methionine. When the body has difficulty absorbing methionine, it can lead to increased levels of these sulfur-containing compounds being excreted in the urine, resulting in a distinct cabbage-like smell.

Other odors may be associated with different metabolic conditions—fruity or sweet odors often suggest the presence of ketones, indicating conditions such as diabetes mellitus or starvation. A foul ammonia-like smell may point to urinary tract infections or urea breakdown, whereas a maple syrup smell is indicative of maple syrup urine disease, which is a genetic disorder affecting branched-chain amino acid metabolism. Each of these odors corresponds to distinct biochemical processes or conditions, but the cabbage-like smell is particularly tied to abnormalities in methionine metabolism.