If you have recently taken a vitamin B supplement, you may have noticed changes in the color of your urine.
It may appear bright yellow, or even neon, if you’ve taken a supplement containing riboflavin (vitamin B2), says the University of Rochester Medical Center. Or, it might look green if it was a B-complex vitamin supplement, adds the Cleveland Clinic.
B vitamins are also water soluble, meaning any excess is eliminated through urine. But don’t worry: this side effect is harmless and goes away on its own.
Why does this happen
The color of your urine can tell you a lot about your health. Healthy urine is usually clear or pale yellow, explains the Cleveland Clinic.
Bright yellow or neon pee is often the result of high vitamin B intake. For example, riboflavin contains a yellow-green pigment with fluorescent hues, StatPearls explains. When consumed in large doses, your pee can turn bright yellow.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that riboflavin regulates energy production and helps you process lipids, steroids, and certain medications. It is found naturally in most foods, including milk, salmon, poultry, eggs, spinach and almonds.
A cup of plain fat-free yogurt, for example, contains 46 percent of the recommended daily intake of riboflavin, according to the NIH.
Another possible cause of urine color change is excess vitamin B12, which can turn your urine yellow or orange-yellow, explains the Mayo Clinic. Your body needs this vitamin to produce red blood cells and synthesize DNA, according to the NIH. And excessive consumption poses no health risk.
Folic acid supplements can also turn your pee bright orange or yellow. The National Library of Medicine states that these supplements contain a yellowish or yellowish-orange powder. Folic acid, also known as vitamin B9, is especially important during pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects.
Urine color and your health
In addition to vitamin B intake, a change in urine color may be a sign of dehydration, a urinary tract infection (UTI), or another health problem, explains the Cleveland Clinic. Certain foods and medications can also affect the color of urine.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, urine is at least 91 percent water. The rest contains urea, electrolytes and other compounds. Urobilin, a byproduct of the breakdown of hemoglobin, gives urine its yellow color.
If your pee is colorless, you may be drinking too much water, which can lead to electrolyte imbalances, explains Nebraska Methodist Health System. But dark yellow urine could be a sign of dehydration.
Light orange or neon yellow urine is usually the result of dietary supplements or medications, such as multivitamins. But it can also indicate liver or bile duct problems, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Certain foods, like carrots, can also turn your urine orange. If your pee is white or milky, you could have a urinary tract infection.
See a doctor immediately if your urine is red, black, or dark brown or frothy, says the Cleveland Clinic. These changes in urine color and texture may indicate a more serious problem, such as liver, bile duct, or kidney problems. Also see a doctor if you see blood in your urine.
Why are B vitamins important?
There are eight essential B vitamins. Each plays a different role in your body. They help provide your body with energy and create new red blood cells and DNA, explains the Cleveland Clinic.
Taking B vitamins can also help prevent deficiencies caused by your diet or certain health problems.
Low levels of vitamin B12, for example, can affect your energy and endurance. You may also experience unintentional weight loss, poor appetite, constipation, depression, and memory problems. Long-term, vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to anemia and nervous system damage, according to the NIH.
You should make sure your diet also provides adequate doses of thiamine or vitamin B1, says the NIH. This vitamin helps your body convert food into energy. It is found in beans, fortified cereals, pork, tuna, brown rice and other whole foods. Thiamine deficiency has been linked to cardiovascular problems, memory loss, anorexia and neurological disorders.
The potential health benefits of B vitamins or B-complex vitamins outweigh the potential risks, such as bright yellow urine. But before taking a new supplement, it’s wise to speak with your doctor to make sure you can do so safely.
