Can a supplement containing minoxidil, biotin, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, ascorbic acid, and zinc sulfate cause foul‑smelling urine?

Can This Supplement Cause Foul-Smelling Urine?

No, none of the ingredients in this supplement formulation are known to cause foul-smelling urine at the doses provided. The components—minoxidil 1.5mg, biotin 2.5mg, vitamin B5 11mg, vitamin B6 2.5mg, vitamin C 100mg, and zinc sulfate 50mg—do not produce malodorous urine as a recognized side effect at these therapeutic levels.

Analysis of Individual Components

Minoxidil (1.5mg)

• Minoxidil is a potent peripheral vasodilator with well-documented side effects including sodium retention, tachycardia, hypertrichosis, and pericardial effusion in rare cases 1, 2, 3
• The most common adverse reactions of topical minoxidil are limited to irritant and allergic contact dermatitis, with no reports of urinary odor changes 4
• Minoxidil undergoes 90% hepatic biotransformation and is rapidly metabolized and excreted, but altered urine odor is not among the documented effects 3

Biotin (2.5mg)

• Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin that is rapidly metabolized and excreted in urine 5
• Safety assessments show little acute oral toxicity and no evidence of toxicity in short-term and subchronic studies 5
• Despite widespread daily exposure to biotin, there is no documented association with urinary odor changes 5

B Vitamins (B5, B6) and Vitamin C

• Water-soluble vitamins are absorbed in the proximal small bowel and deficiencies are uncommon in most patients 6
• The doses provided (B5 11mg, B6 2.5mg, C 100mg) are well within safe ranges and below upper tolerable limits 6
• While high-dose B vitamins can sometimes cause bright yellow urine due to riboflavin excretion, foul odor is not a characteristic effect 6

Zinc Sulfate (50mg)

• The 50mg dose of zinc sulfate provides approximately 11mg of elemental zinc, which is within the recommended daily intake range of 8-11mg for adults 6
• Common side effects of zinc supplementation include gastrointestinal disturbances and interference with copper absorption at high doses, but not urinary odor changes 6
• The upper tolerable limit for zinc is 40mg elemental zinc daily, and this formulation approaches but does not exceed this threshold 6

Important Clinical Considerations

Alternative Causes to Investigate

• If foul-smelling urine is present, consider other causes including urinary tract infection, dehydration, dietary factors (asparagus, coffee, garlic), or other medications 6
• Certain dietary supplements not in this formulation—such as garlic, fenugreek, or high-dose fish oils—are known to cause body and urine odor changes 6

Safety Profile of This Formulation

• Multiple vitamin and mineral supplements contribute to medication burden without substantiated benefit in many cases, but the doses in this formulation are generally within therapeutic ranges 6
• The combination appears designed for hair health support, with minoxidil for hair growth stimulation and biotin for hair conditioning 6, 5, 4

Monitoring Recommendations

• Zinc supplementation at this level requires monitoring for copper deficiency, as zinc and copper have an inverse relationship for absorption 7
• A ratio of 8-15mg zinc to 1mg copper should be maintained; this formulation lacks copper supplementation 7
• Patients should be educated about potential gastrointestinal disturbances from zinc, which are the most likely adverse effects from this supplement 6