If you’ve taken a vitamin B supplement recently, you may have noticed some changes to your urine color.
It might look bright yellow, or even neon, if you’ve had a supplement containing riboflavin (vitamin B2), says the University of Rochester Medical Center. Or it may look green if it was a B complex vitamin supplement, adds Cleveland Clinic.
B vitamins are also water-soluble, which means any excess leaves your body through urine. But don’t worry: This side effect is harmless and goes away on its own.
Why It Happens
Urine color can tell you a lot about your health. Healthy urine is typically clear or pale yellow, says Cleveland Clinic.
Bright yellow or neon pee is often the result of high vitamin B intakes. For example, riboflavin contains a yellow-green pigment with fluorescent hues, says StatPearls. When consumed in large doses, it can cause your pee to turn bright yellow.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that riboflavin regulates energy production and helps you process lipids, steroids, and some drugs. It naturally occurs in most foods, including milk and dairy, salmon, poultry, eggs, spinach, and almonds.
One cup of plain fat-free yogurt, for instance, boasts 46 percent of the daily recommended intake for riboflavin, says the NIH.
Another possible cause of changes in urine color is excess vitamin B12, which can turn your urine yellow or yellow orange, says Mayo Clinic. Your body needs this vitamin to produce red blood cells and synthesize DNA, according to the NIH. And excess intake doesn’t pose any health risks.
Folic acid supplements can make your pee orange or bright yellow, too. The National Library of Medicine says these supplements contain a yellow or yellowish-orange powder. Folic acid, also known as vitamin B9, is particularly important during pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects.
Urine Color and Your Health
In addition to vitamin B intake, a change in urine color might be a sign of dehydration, a urinary tract infection (UTI), or another health condition, says Cleveland Clinic. Some foods and medications may affect urine color, too.
According to Cleveland Clinic, urine is at least 91 percent water. The rest of it contains urea, electrolytes, and other compounds. Urobilin, a by-product of hemoglobin breakdown, gives urine its yellow color.
If your pee is colorless, you may be drinking too much water, which can lead to electrolyte imbalances, says the 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 may also indicate liver or bile duct problems, according to Mayo Clinic.
Certain foods, such as carrots, may cause your urine to turn orange, too. If your pee is white or milky, you may have a UTI.
Consult a doctor immediately if your urine is red, black, or dark brown or foamy, says Cleveland Clinic. These changes in urine color and texture may indicate a more serious problem, such as liver, bile duct, or kidney issues. Also, seek medical help 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, says Cleveland Clinic.
Taking B vitamins can also help prevent deficiencies caused by your diet or even certain health conditions.
Low levels of vitamin B12, for instance, can affect your energy and stamina. You may also experience unintentional weight loss, poor appetite, constipation, depression, and memory problems. In the long run, vitamin B12 deficiency may lead to anemia and nervous system damage, according to the NIH.
You’ll want to make sure your diet provides adequate doses of thiamin, or vitamin B1, too, says the NIH. This vitamin helps your body convert food into energy. It’s found in beans, fortified cereals, pork, tuna, brown rice, and other whole foods. Thiamin deficiency has been linked to cardiovascular problems, memory loss, anorexia, and neurological disorders.
The potential health benefits of any B vitamins or B complex vitamins outweigh any potential risks, like bright yellow urine. But before taking any new supplement, it’s wise to speak with your healthcare provider to make sure it’s safe to do so.
