What Causes Flatulence Odor?
There are several interconnected causes behind flatulence odor, with the smell of flatulence boiling down to efficiency of the digestive process and what someone eats. The actual odor-causing compounds in farts are produced by bacteria in the colon in the process of breaking down food. These bacteria are beneficial and welcome residents of the intestinal tract, as they break down food into forms the body can absorb. Everyone has slightly different gut flora and consequently, flatulence odor is quite variable from person to person. Most of the strong smells associated with flatulence are caused by sulfur compounds and methane, common byproducts of digesting foods like meat, eggs, and members of the broccoli family. Some people have a higher concentration of organisms known for producing strong smelling gases, and thus may experience more flatulence odor than others.
