There does not appear to be any literature that directly supports any
link between extreme sensitivity to certain smells and temporary zinc
deficiency and/or kidney dysfunction. However, the situation is
complex, and it is possible that there is an indirect link.
The literature on zinc deficiency suggests that it is not known to be
a cause of any increased sensitivity to smells. In fact, the opposite
is generally observed! There is a very thorough review (with 239
references) of what is known about zinc nutritional needs, sources,
factors that affect zinc absorption, and the symptoms of deficiency:
THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF ZINC DEFICIENCY, A review from the literature
by Tuula E. Tuormaa for FORESIGHT, the Association for the Promotion
of Preconceptual Care [first published in: Journal of Orthomolecular
Medicine, 10 (3 & 4): 149-164, (1995)]
http://www.surreyweb.org.uk/foresight/zinc.html
Zinc is known to alter taste and smell and is thought to be a factor
in some cases of anorexia and bulimarexia. The observation is that a
zinc deficiency suppresses taste and smell and leads to loss of
appetite. The reason is that "zinc is essential for the taste
perception is because taste is mediated through a salivary
zinc-dependent polypeptide termed gustin, therefore low salivary zinc
levels invariably leads to a reduction of taste." Zinc deficiencies
are generally short-term, and symptoms can be quickly relieved by
restoring adequate zinc intake and absorption.
A relation between kidney dysfunction and an altered sense of smell is
harder to pin down. There is no direct link between kidney function
and smell, but problems with both can indeed be symptoms of the same
underlying disease. Again, the more typical situation is that a _loss_
of smell and loss of kidney function would occur together. The
Materials Safety Data Sheet for cadmium, for example reports that both
are symptoms of cadmium poisoning:
http://www.teckcominco.com/products/msds/msds-cadmium-0901.pdf
Another suggestion of a correlation can be found in the statement,
"hepatic systemic dysfunction (particularly of the liver or kidneys)
is sometimes involved in sensory system problems. Torpid liver, low
(cold) or high hepatic circulation, or kidney disease can contribute
to impaired vision, hearing, taste or smell. Sometimes systemic
toxicity is the link between hepatic system problems and sensory
system dysfunction." Here again, the suggestion is that the common
version of the problem is a loss of smell, and that it may be
correlated with an underlying toxicity problem of some sort causing
both sets of symptoms. (From The Meridian Institute's "Explanation of
CCSI Scale Scores" at
http://www.meridianinstitute.com/ccsiexpl.html )
Of course, it is also possible that a person who thinks his urine
smells odd is not having a problem with his sense of smell! Unusual
urine smells can be a symptom of kidney problems:
"Health Musings (Paper 10D, Kidney and Bladder Problems)," by
Clifford S. Garner, Ph.D.
http://www.royalrife.com/kidney.html
The most well-known correlations with "hyperolfaction" (enhanced sense
of smell) have to do with the hormonal changes associated with
pregnancy. See, for example,
"Theories on HG [hyperemesis gravidarum (pernicious vomiting of
pregnancy)]"
http://www.hyperemesis.org/theory_research.htm
You may also wish to consult the pages of The Taste and Smell Clinic
of Washington DC:
http://www.tasteandsmell.com/index.html
This site has extensive information about the problems of impaired and
altered taste and smell, possible causes, diagnostic methods and
available treatments. The problem is actually very common, in that it
is estimated that approximately 7% of the US population suffers from
taste and smell problems of one sort or another. I was not able to
find any obvious match there to the specific symptoms you describe,
but perhaps you will find some other information there which helps you
diagnose the cause of the extreme sensitivity to certain smells in
your particular case. You may need to enlist the assistance of a
specialist such as those at The Taste and Smell Clinic to come up with
a definitive diagnosis and treatment. There are a great many specific
diseases and anatomical and neurological abnormalities which can cause
an altered sense of smell, and a definitive diagnosis may require
extensive testing.
Good luck!
Google searches:
zinc deficiency smell
://www.google.com/search?q=zinc+deficiency+smell
kidney dysfunction symptoms smell
://www.google.com/search?q=kidney+dysfunction+symptoms+smell
hyperolfaction
://www.google.com/search?q=hyperolfaction |
