[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-66px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” text_line_height=”2em” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Naturally, the color of urine ranges from pale yellow to deep amber, depending on the amount of water you drink. Pale or transparent yellow urine shows sufficient hydration; clear or transparent urine indicates overhydration; and dark yellow to amber or orange to dark orange urine indicates dehydration.\u00a0<\/span>Such changes in urine color are due to a yellow pigment called urochrome or urobilin, which is a breakdown product of the blood\u2019s hemoglobin that gets excreted through the kidney.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The color of urine can also be affected by certain medications, vitamins, pigments, or food types that you take. However, the color of urine can sometimes signal a health problem or disease, including urinary tract infection (UTI), kidney, or bladder cancer. For example, brown urine is a sign of kidney, liver, or bladder disease or injury. But it could also be due to your diet or current medication. <\/span>That is why urine is usually described as a window into your diet and health.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” text_line_height=”2em” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Below are details on factors which contribute to changes in urine color. Changes in urine color may depend on one or many of these factors and in most cases it is completely harmless and will subside. But if such changes persist, then contact a doctor<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Urochrome is the chemical mainly responsible for the yellow color of urine. \u00a0It is a waste product which results from the breakdown of hemoglobin during red blood cell destruction. Urochome is removed from the body by the kidney. So, the more water you drink, the more it becomes diluted in your urine giving it an almost colorless appearance. However, the lesser water you drink the more urochome becomes concentrated in your urine giving it color ranging from pale yellow to dark amber.<\/span><\/p>\n Naturally colored foods such as berries, beets and rhubarb contain pigments which can temporarily turn your urine red, pink, or dark brown respectively. This can give a force alarm that there is blood in urine<\/strong><\/a><\/span> (hematuria<\/strong><\/a><\/span>). However, eating these foods doesn\u2019t always cause a visible effect since many factors such as the acidity of your stomach, the mixture of what you eat or the time you eat will all play a role. \u00a0Other food types which can also alter your urine color include fava beans, aloe or carrot. This will give your urine dark brown, tea colored or orange appearance respectively.<\/span><\/p>\n Vitamins can also cause a change in urine color.\u00a0 Beta carotene and Vitamin C (or ascorbic acid) gives urine an orange or dark yellow color while B-vitamins such as Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) gives urine a fluorescent yellow-green color. Therefore taking multivitamin supplements can make your urine brightly colored and should not be a call for alarm.<\/span><\/p>\n Most drugs or medications change the look of your urine. It is a perfectly normal and harmless situation. The table below shows some common medications which cause urine to change color and the color changes they bring to your urine.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n UTIs can turn urine pink, red or cola-colored. This is due to the presence of blood in urine<\/strong>\u00a0<\/a><\/span>(hematuria<\/strong><\/a><\/span>). If the amount of blood is small, then it will be visible only under the microscope but large amount of blood flow can be viewed with the naked eyes. UTIs can also cause urine to appear white, milky or cloudy.<\/span><\/p>\nWhat causes changes in urine color?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
Urochrome<\/span><\/h3>\n
Diet, pigments and Vitamins<\/span><\/h3>\n
Medication<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n\n
\n Medication<\/strong><\/span><\/th>\n Urine Color<\/strong><\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n \n Nitrofurantoin (Furadantin), chroroquine (Aralen), primaquine, metronidazole (flagyl), furazolidone (Furoxone), Acetaminophen or Tylenol (when taken in overdosed)<\/span><\/td>\n Dark brown or tea-colored<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Ibuprofen, senna (Ex-Lax), Chlorpromazine (Thorazine), thioridazine (Mellaril), phenytoin (Dilantin)<\/span><\/td>\n Pink or Red<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Amitriptyline, indomethacin (Indocin), cimetidine (Tagamet), promethazine (Phenergan), methylene blue (when used as a drug), zaleplon (Sonata), Methocarbamol (Robaxin), Metoclopramide (Reglan)<\/span><\/td>\n Blue or green<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Rifampin (Rifadin), warfarin (Coumadin), phenazopyridine (Pyridium), isoniazid, sulfasalazine<\/span><\/td>\n Orange<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n <\/span><\/h3>\n
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Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)<\/span><\/h3>\n
Medical Condition<\/span><\/h3>\n