Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies That May Cause Body Odor

Can Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies Cause Body Odor?

Can Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies Cause Body Odor?
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Updated on October 16, 2025
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Good hygiene is important for preventing body odor. But an unpleasant smell can also be due to the food you eat, and less commonly, a nutrient deficiency. Falling short on certain minerals, like zinc, may be more likely to contribute to body odor.

Zinc

Zinc is an essential mineral that’s important for your immune system, hormone production, wound healing, and your sense of taste and smell, among other things.

According to Mayo Clinic, factors like stress and hormonal changes can increase your risk of body odor and sweating. Because zinc plays a role in hormone production and reducing inflammation, a deficiency may cause imbalances that lead to more body odor.

Symptoms of zinc deficiency can include diarrhea, delayed healing of wounds, frequent infections, and changes to your sense of taste.

While zinc deficiency is common globally, most people in the United States get enough zinc from their diets, according to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS).

Foods high in zinc include meat, fish, and seafood.

Zinc oxide is also a common ingredient in deodorants, due to its antibacterial properties. One study published in the journal Acta Dermato-Venereologica found that applying zinc oxide to the skin effectively reduced self-perceived odor and the amount of odor-causing bacteria.

Vitamin C

Scurvy is a disease caused by severe vitamin C deficiency. It’s not common in developed countries. But older people, low-income individuals, and others may be at higher risk, according to a study published in the journal ‌Nutrients‌.

Putrid-smelling sweat is a symptom of scurvy, according to a frequently cited review published in ‌The Journal of Biochemistry‌.

Sources of vitamin C include plant foods like citrus fruits, potatoes, tomatoes, and spinach, according to Mayo Clinic.

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)

Taking vitamin B2 supplements may help with body odor if you have a rare condition called trimethylaminuria.

The condition causes a compound called trimethylamine (TMA) to build up in your body. It’s produced by microorganisms in your gut and is typically metabolized. But people with certain gene changes, or liver or kidney dysfunction, may not be able to process it.

TMA that builds up is eventually released through sweat, urine, reproductive fluids, and breath, causing a strong, fishy odor.

According to a review published in the journal Biology, vitamin B2 supplements may increase the activity of enzymes that break down TMA.

Also, avoiding foods that contain TMA precursors — like shellfish, eggs, meat, legumes, and mushrooms — may also help reduce the buildup of TMA.

Diet Tips to Reduce Body Odor

A vitamin deficiency may not be the main cause of your body odor, but the food you eat may have an effect on your scent.

According to Cleveland Clinic, eating foods rich in sulfur may contribute to unpleasant sweat. Limiting these foods may help improve your smell.

Sulfur-rich foods include:

  • Onions
  • Cabbage
  • Garlic
  • Broccoli
  • Red meat

Eating or drinking certain things may also make you sweat more, giving bacteria more of a chance to cause odor. These include caffeine, alcohol, curry spices, and hot sauce.

Reducing the amount of sweat-triggering foods in your diet may help prevent unpleasant body odor.

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Grant Chu, MD

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Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Grant Chu, MD, is an assistant clinical professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Chu is also the associate director of education at the UCLA Center for East-West Medicine, using technology to further medical education.

He is board-certified in internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine and is a diplomate of the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

He received a bachelor's degree in neuroscience from Brown University, where he also earned his medical degree. He has a master's in acupuncture and oriental medicine from South Baylo University and a master's in business administration from the University of Illinois. He completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of California in Los Angeles and a fellowship at the Center for East-West Medicine at UCLA.

He has held academic appointments at the University of California in Irvine and the University of Queensland in Australia.

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Lacey Muinos

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Lacey Muinos is a California-based writer specializing in nutrition, health, wellness, and skin. She received a bachelor's degree in English from California State Polytechnic University. Her work has appeared in a variety of publications and for several brands, such as Health.com, Livestrong, Healthline, Verywell Health, Real Simple, SingleCare, and EltaMD, among others.
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