Table of Contents
Introduction
Urine colour generally ranges from pale yellow to Bright yellow pee (deep amber). This colouring is primarily caused by the pigment urochrome, also known as urobilin.
Whether your urine is weak by water or in a more concentrated form determines the looks of the pigment. The much water you drink and the much hydrated you become, the lighter the pigment in the urine.
The chemicals and pigment compounds in the foods and diet you eat and the medications you take also alter the colour of your urine. These changes are relatively standard and typically only last for a short time.
Specific colour changes may be a sign of an underlying medical condition.
Taking certain vitamin B supplements may cause bright yellow urine. Usually, urine should be pale yellow, clear, and free of clouds or particles. Darker urine can indicate dehydration.
Everyone has a different “normal” regarding urine colour, but it should fall on the yellow spectrum.
The quantity of water you drink impacts whether the colour is pale yellow, dark amber, or gold. People who drink much water and stay hydrated produce more diluted, pale urine than those who are dehydrated or consume less water.
If the colour of your urine falls outside of this yellow spectrum — like cloudy or brown urine — you should see a doctor or health care provider. You should also contact a doctor if your urine is red, blue, or green.
Bright yellow pee
The most common culprit is vitamin B2, riboflavin, found in most multivitamins. The neon colour in pee is just a safe sign that you’re taking more than the body needs, and the excess is mixing with the pee.
What causes urine colour to change?
As mentioned above, the colour of your urine is primarily determined by how much water you’ve had to take. When you take lots of water, your urine may become so light that it appears almost transparent. The less water you take, the darker your urine will become.
1. Diet, vitamins, and minerals
Diet can also be a factor. The colour of all-natural foods (such as berries and beets) can interact with pigment to generate a different colour. Heavily processed foods can carry high amounts of food dye, which will also interact with the pigment.
B vitamins, like cobalamin (B-12) and riboflavin (B-2), are also called for causing fluorescent yellow-green urine. If you take multivitamins or supplements, they may be the Source of your brightly coloured urine.
Meal replacement shakes, fortified with B vitamins, may have the same impact.
Excess vitamin C or beta carotene may lead to dark yellow or orange urine. Beta carotene, converted to vitamin A in your body, is found in orange and yellow foods such as carrots and sweet potatoes.
Vitamin C is also found in strawberries, broccoli, citrus fruits, and tomatoes.
2. Exercise
If you don’t correctly hydrate after a workout, you can also experience darker urine and dehydration. Extreme exercise or workout without proper hydration may cause a severe condition leading to muscle breakdown.
It can cause severe muscle pain and cola—or tea-colored urine. If this occurs, you should seek instant medical observation.
3. Medications
Over-the-counter and prescription medications can also make the urine bright or more vivid. It includes antibiotics, laxatives, and certain chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer.
For example, phenazopyridine (Pyridium) is usually used to treat the unease associated with urinary tract infections. A typical side effect of its usage is orange-coloured urine.
Other medications, such as rifampin, may also stain the urine a bright orange.
4. Medical conditions
Changes in the colour of your urine could be a sign of troubles with your liver, kidney, or bladder function. You may have a bladder or kidney infection if the urine becomes cloudy or a strong odour grows.
It is especially true if you have any symptoms of these infections, such as urinating, fever, vomiting, or back pain.
5. Bright yellow pee vitamins
High-dose vitamins may turn your pee a bright, almost neon-yellow colour. The most ordinary culprit is vitamin B2, riboflavin, found in most multivitamins. The neon colour in pee is just a safe sign that you’re taking more than the body needs, and the excess is mixing with the pee.
6. Bright yellow pee pregnancy
Anecdotal evidence suggests that bright yellow pee may be an early cause of pregnancy. However, there are no investigations to support these claims. Consuming specific prenatal vitamins and supplements can also affect urine colour. Most prenatal contains many different B vitamins, like riboflavin (vitamin B-2), which can turn urine a bright, almost highlighter-like yellow.
7. Some risk factors for strange urine colour
Your age and sex may raise the risk of conditions that may affect the colour of your urine. For example, tumours in the kidney or bladder are common in older adults, and urinary tract bleeding is commonly associated with kidney or bladder problems.
More severe conditions such as cancer can also cause bleeding and pink or red urine. Tell the doctor immediately if you notice blood in your urine so they can determine the cause.
Up to 60 per cent of women trusted Source will experience a UTI at least once in their lives. This contamination may be accompanied by urinary tract bleeding, which may change urine colour.
Urinary tract bleeding is much less common in kids, though certain rare disorders may originate from blood in the urine. These sicknesses include Henoch-Schonlein purpura, hemolytic uremic syndrome, and Wilms’ tumour.
As with grown-ups, any urinary tract bleeding in kids is considered abnormal and should prompt immediate medical attention.
How is abnormal urine colour treated?
Treatment options may vary, depending on what your doctor discovers from the tests. If the doctor discovers that your dark-yellow urine colour is due to dehydration, they will suggest that you add more fluids to your diet.
The colour of your urine should return to its standard yellow colour within days. If an underlying medical state is found, the doctor will pursue treatment.
Bright yellow pee even when hydrated
Drinking liquids can dilute the colour, so bright yellow pee may show dehydration. Some medications, vitamins, and health conditions can also cause it. Urine colour generally ranges from pale yellow to deep amber. This colouring is primarily caused by the pigment urochrome, also known as urobilin.
Bright yellow pee after drinking alcohol
The severity of these may all work as indicators of your level of dehydration the morning after, but a great meter is the colour of the urine. It is why it’s prevalent for your pee to be a much darker yellow after a long night of drinking. You should take enough water so that urine is clear. However, when you drink alcohol, the excess urine growth can lead to dehydration and much more concentrated urine. It is common for this urine to appear dark yellow or brown.
Bright yellow pee when sick
Drinking liquids can dilute the colour, so bright yellow pee may show dehydration. Some medications, vitamins, and health conditions can also cause it. Urine colour generally ranges from pale yellow to deep amber.
Conclusion
The most common culprit is vitamin B2, riboflavin, found in most multivitamins. The neon colour in pee is just a safe sign that you’re taking more than the body needs, and the excess is mixing with the pee.
