The Invisible Scent: Gut Microbes, Metabolism & MEBO

Welcome to The Invisible Scent, the podcast on the hidden connections between gut bacteria, metabolism, and socially debilitating malodor conditions like PATM, MEBO and TMAU. 

With expert interviews, patient stories, and cutting-edge insights, The Invisible Scent seeks to bridge the gap between medical research and real-world experiences. By embracing patient-reported data and advancing diagnostic tools, we aim to pave the way for more effective treatments and better quality of life for those affected.

Overview of MEBO/PATM and TMAU studies

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The R’s of Gut Healing: A Path to Recovery for MEBO Sufferers

It’s always good to hear from past participants of our studies, especially those who have been able to heal. We are happy that Jonathan is doing well now and grateful for his contributions to research.

"I followed a method called The Four R’s of the Gut, if you have heard about it, and I wanted to ask if it’s a good idea to help people in the group using the way I was cured, since you have more experience in this. Because I strongly believe taking the GI Map Stool test gave me clarity on what needed to be done"

The Four R’s Approach to gut health—Remove, Replace, Reinoculate, and Regenerate—has been widely recognized as a functional medicine framework for restoring digestive balance. It was recently expanded into the Five R’s, adding Rebalance to address lifestyle factors. 

Many in our community who successfully overcame MEBO, TMAU, PATM and related gut dysbiosis issues unknowingly followed this approach. As we’ve explored in previous research, gut health is intimately connected to metabolic function, detoxification, and body odor.

Understanding the R’s

1. Remove – Eliminating harmful bacteria, yeast overgrowth, parasites, and inflammatory foods that contribute to gut dysbiosis. Testing, like the GI Map Stool Test, can provide clarity on specific pathogens or imbalances.
2. Replace – Restoring digestive efficiency with digestive enzymes, stomach acid (HCl), and bile salts to support nutrient breakdown and absorption.
3. Reinoculate – Rebuilding the gut microbiome with beneficial probiotics and prebiotics to ensure a balanced microbial environment.
4. Regenerate – Healing the gut lining with nutrients like L-glutamine, zinc, omega-3s, and collagen to repair intestinal permeability (leaky gut).
5. Rebalance - restoring the mind-body connection and lifestyle habits that influence digestive health

Emerging research suggests that gut dysbiosis and impaired detoxification play a role in conditions like MEBO, PATM and TMAU. Since the gut is a major site of toxin processing and elimination, any imbalance in microbial composition or gut barrier function may contribute to metabolic odors.

By restoring gut health, many have reported a significant reduction in symptoms—sometimes without even realizing they were following the Four R’s protocol.

Read the full article here: Olfactics and Olfactory Theranostics: From 4R to 5R: The Evolution of Functional Medicine in Gut Health

If you’ve successfully used this method or have questions about how to implement it, share your experience in the comments! Let’s continue learning from each other’s journeys toward recovery.

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Exploring PATM and Its Unbearable Reality

Condition that lacks a formal name can isolate you from the world. 

Josephine Franks brings to light the deeply isolating and misunderstood world of those living with PATM. This phenomenon causes people in proximity to sufferers to develop hay fever-like symptoms, including coughing, sneezing, and itchy eyes. 

Franks shares the stories of individuals like Medinah, a young woman whose condition confines her largely to her home, and Fahima, who has adapted her lifestyle to avoid triggering reactions in others. These personal accounts reveal the immense physical, emotional, and social toll of PATM. Sandra, a long-time sufferer, describes how the condition has led to anxiety, depression, and career setbacks, while Amir openly speaks about the profound loneliness and mental health challenges he faces.

While the article does not address our microbiome and metabolome findings, investigations by our scientists have uncovered significant heterogeneity in sufferers, complicating the search for patterns or consistent biomarkers. Communicating our research findings to the broader scientific community and securing adequate attention remain major hurdles.

Read the full article to learn more about the challenges, resilience, and some prior science surrounding this enigmatic condition: Read Josephine Franks's article on Sky News.

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A EURORDIS and NORD Member Organization