Certain foods can cause various people problems. Lactose containing foods in a lactose intolerant patient can cause significant flatus and GI disturbances. Cheeses and various vegetables (cabbage, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, etc) although good for people and replete with various vitamins can cause problems with flatus. Lactase supplements can help with lactose intolerance. Beano® (available in tablets and liquid) can be added to some problem-causing foods in susceptible patients. Beano® is a galactosidase supplement. Various formulations of chlorophyll and bismuth subgallate are available with claims of decreasing odors from flatus, colostomies, incontinence, etc.

Recently, it has been hypothesized that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is one of the main malodorous agents in human flatus. Bismuth salts have been hypothesized to bind H2S gas into an insoluble salt (bismuth sulfide). This may take 2-3 days to work. The 'usual' dose of Pepto Bismol® is 1-2 tablets orally QID. Patients should be cautioned against chronic use since too much bismuth or salicylates can cause problems.