Amber urine. Dangerous and harmless causes of urine color change

In custody

Coloration of urine in a bright yellow tone is not always a serious disease. But you should take care of your health, take preventive measures to maintain it and consult a doctor in a timely manner.

Video on the topic

The color of urine is an important diagnostic criterion for assessing the activity of the body. Normally, urine is light yellow or straw-colored. The color intensity changes even in a healthy person depending on the food consumed and the amount of liquid drunk. However, in some cases, color change is an important sign when making a diagnosis. Orange urine may be associated with physiological factors, but we should not forget that sometimes this situation signals that the body is not working properly.

Physiological reasons

There are several reasons why urine turns an unnatural orange hue. More often the process is not associated with serious violations. The color of a biological fluid is determined by the amount of substances dissolved in it - pigments. At night, when there is a long break between urinations, a lot of them accumulate, therefore, the morning portion may have an amber or rusty hue. If the urine color returns to normal during the day, then there is probably no reason to panic.

If there are no complaints about your health, but your urine suddenly turns brick-colored, you should think about what you ate the day before. Red pigments are found in carrots, beets, persimmons, oranges, grapefruit, sea buckthorn, pumpkin, raspberries and other foods rich in carotene. In addition, candies, candies, lemonade, juices, alcohol, and other sweets and drinks often contain artificial colors. Nutrition is the most common factor in changing the properties of urine.

Urine can darken with little fluid intake or heavy sweating during the hot season, as well as after excessive physical exertion in the gym. In people who are professionally involved in sports, urine may foam due to excess protein intake.

Effect of medications

Dark urine can be a side effect of taking vitamins A and C, painkillers (Phenazopyridine), anticoagulants (Warfarin), laxatives with phenolphthalein, anti-tuberculosis (Rifampicin), antimicrobial (Furagin) drugs, as well as drugs that affect the growth of tumors. This is due to the fact that many medications are excreted by the kidneys, which means that the urinary fluid after taking them will contain breakdown products and have a characteristic tone. As a rule, after discontinuation of therapy, the color of urine returns to normal.

Pathological causes

Sometimes rusty urine is a serious cause for concern and a trip to the doctor. Typically, the urine of a healthy adult consists of 97% water. The more saturated the color, the less the amount of liquid in it. This leads to the next reason for the amber color - dehydration, which can be caused by poisoning or an infection of the intestines.

The discharge of orange urine in elderly and middle-aged men often indicates prostate pathology or the presence of urolithiasis. The changes are usually accompanied by repeated attacks of pain, vomiting, fever, weakness and chills. Sometimes sediment in the form of stones and sand is found in the urine.

Red urine may mean that inflammatory processes are occurring in the urinary system caused by a bacterial infection. The proliferation of bacteria in pyelonephritis is accompanied by:

• rise in temperature, chills;
• malaise, drowsiness;
• pain in the lumbar region;
• frequent urination;
• swelling;
• a dark yellow tint and a pungent odor of urine.

Symptoms of glomerulonephritis are:

• darkening of urine to a bright brown color;
• swelling of the face and legs;
• high blood pressure;
• decreased urine output;
• nausea;
• headache, weakness.

In women, orange urine may be a sign of cystitis. In addition, it contains a large amount of mucus, and urination becomes painful.

Features in pregnant women and children

The physiological cause of orange urine in women is pregnancy. Urine from pregnant girls that is yellowish-amber in color does not always serve as an alarm signal. It reflects the foods that make up a woman’s diet, since the body works differently during this period. However, the change in color may be a consequence of toxicosis, which occurs in girls at the beginning of pregnancy, as well as gestosis. Associated complaints with gestosis are swelling of the legs, arms, face and increased blood pressure. In this case, consultation with a specialist is required.

In infants, urine of a light amber hue is not an isolated phenomenon; the culprit is uric acid, which gives the characteristic color. Urine of infants has a high specific gravity, but as water is added to the diet, it decreases, and over time the liquid becomes yellowish, a natural shade. In older children, changes in urine color are not always a pathology. The reason for this is excessive consumption of bright and eye-catching sweets, carbonated drinks rich in artificial colors.

Pathological causes of changes in the color of urine are the following diseases: uric acid infarction, hepatitis, dehydration, poisoning, intestinal infection, hemolytic disease of newborns, toxic and inflammatory liver lesions.

Necessary examinations

To find the cause of the uncharacteristic color of urine or to detect the presence of a possible pathogen, it is necessary to conduct a number of studies:

• general urinalysis (UCA);
• Nechiporenko test;
• general analysis and blood biochemistry;
• liver enzyme testing;
• Ultrasound of the kidneys and peritoneal organs.

Taking into account accompanying complaints, the doctor may prescribe additional examination methods to establish and confirm the diagnosis. Despite the large list of tests, they should be performed, since early diagnosis promotes a speedy recovery and prevents the development of complications.

Treatment and prevention

When urine with an orange tint is observed, it is important to find the provoking factors, and then prescribe the appropriate treatment for a specific disease, if necessary. Perhaps this is a temporary, physiological phenomenon that will normalize on its own. To begin with, it is important to analyze the nature of your diet, as well as how much liquid was consumed. In summer, in hot weather and during active sports, sweating is most pronounced, so it is especially important to maintain a water regime and control the amount of fluid you drink. If the appearance of a red color is caused by taking medications, then after completion of treatment the color will return to normal. Orange urine in children is often a consequence of ingesting large amounts of brightly colored sweets and lollipops that line the supermarket shelves. In these cases, you should temporarily stop eating foods containing orange pigment and increase the amount of fluid you consume.

Pregnant girls should regularly see a gynecologist, take the necessary tests and tell the doctor about all the changes in their body.

Associated symptoms will help to suspect the presence of any disease, such as: pain in the lower back when urinating, weakness, malaise, fever and swelling. If the color of urine changes for a long time or other complaints appear, you should contact a medical facility for a full examination.

Urine color ( Color, COL)

Urine color is probably one of the most obvious signs of kidney dysfunction. To correctly determine the color of urine, you need to examine it in good lighting in a transparent container on a white background.

The color of a healthy person's urine normally ranges from straw to amber yellow. This color is due to the presence in the urine of substances that are formed from blood pigments (urobilin, hematoporphyrin, urochromes, etc.).

Sometimes the color of the urine may be unusual. The intensity of the yellow color of urine depends on the amount of liquid consumed. The more you drink, the lighter the urine becomes, and vice versa, if little liquid is consumed, the urine becomes more concentrated and dark. Also, the color of urine may change when taking vitamins, medications, and eating certain foods (beets, carrots).

In most cases, changes in the color of urine are temporary without serious consequences, but sometimes such changes can be the result of an infection or other serious illness.

The most common changes in urine color that are not caused by disease:

• rose red– beets, blueberries, aspirin, cephalosporin antibiotics;
• brown– taking bear ears, sulfonamides;
• greenish yellow– rhubarb, Alexandrian leaf;
• deep yellow– taking riboflavin, furagin, 5-NOK;
• colorless urine- after drinking heavily.

Possible changes in urine color due to diseases:

• color of strong tea (beer)– pathology of the liver and gall bladder;
• reddish tint (the color of “meat slop”)– inflammatory kidney diseases, hemoglobinuria, hematuria;
• colorless or faint yellow– a symptom of advanced renal disease, diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus;
• dark yellow with a green tint– usually indicates jaundice;
• greenish yellow– significant content of pus in the urine;
• dark, almost black– hemolytic anemia;
• whitish– a significant amount of phosphates and lipids.

Urine color during pregnancy

Pregnancy does not affect the color of urine. The color of urine during pregnancy is normally yellow, as in non-pregnant women and men. Often during pregnancy, bright yellow or orange urine is observed, which is associated with regular use of vitamins.

Normal urine should only be clear, pale yellow in color. Its structure cannot be cloudy or contain any impurity particles if the body is in a healthy state.

Effect of Hydration Level

Urine usually ranges from pale yellow to dark amber. Some of its changes are harmless, while others are symptoms of a particular disease.

This color in normal urine is due to the presence of a substance known as urochrome. It is also called urobilin. It is the result of the breakdown of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells. Urochrome is a by-product of red blood cell renewal.

When a person drinks a lot of water, this fluid excreted from the body can become lighter than the usual version. When it is diluted with water (if it is consumed in large quantities), it will be much paler than bright yellow urine in its more concentrated form.

Urine also becomes yellow and saturated when a person loses a lot of fluid (for example, it comes out due to more active work of the sweat glands). This criterion demonstrates whether sufficient quantity of water is consumed or not. Dark shades of yellow suggest that a person is dehydrated and needs to hydrate. Therefore, monitoring the shade of fluid excreted from the body is recommended as a reliable way to monitor hydration during exercise.

Urgent medical attention should be sought when dehydration is caused by illness or the person is unable to drink water. Dehydration can be dangerous for anyone, but young children and older adults are especially vulnerable. The less water people drink, the more bright yellow their urine is likely to be.

Effect of medications

Pigments and chemicals found in foods and medications can also change the tone of urine. Among the latter are:

• antibiotics;
• laxatives;
• some medications used for chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer;
• drugs that are prescribed to combat urinary tract infections.

These changes are fairly standard and usually do not occur over a long period of time. Rifampin is used in the treatment of tuberculosis. It results in red or orange colored urine.

Diprivan is a drug that turns urine green or blue. Chronic exposure to lead or mercury poisoning turns this excreted fluid red.

Dietary and vitamin components

Diet can also be a factor influencing this issue. Rhubarb gives urine a dark brown color. All natural fruits, vegetables (especially beets), berries, and highly processed foods can contain large amounts of food coloring. The latter are able to interact with pigments of the digestive system and lead to a change in the tone of the fluid excreted from the body.

This shade also varies depending on whether the food and water intake is separate or not. Asparagus gives, for example, a green tint and an unpleasant odor.

There are two types of vitamins: water-soluble and fat-soluble. Very yellow urine generally indicates excess vitamin B, although it is harmless. It dissolves in water and is quickly absorbed in large quantities before reaching the intestines. Then this microelement quickly passes into the bloodstream, where it is filtered by the kidneys within half an hour. The body then eliminates excess B2 through urine.

However, you can try stopping taking the vitamin for a few days and drinking several glasses of water throughout the day. This will allow you to see if the urine subsequently becomes lighter in color. Other vitamins, such as A, D and E, which are not water soluble, are absorbed more slowly as they move through the intestines.

Features of the pregnancy period

Since the normal tone of urine varies among shades of yellow, there should be no cause for concern if it looks lighter, brighter, or darker, even during pregnancy. During this period, the urine may be bright yellow in many cases, and this should not be considered something unusual. During pregnancy, color changes may result from:

• the influence of normal changes in the way the kidneys filter water;
• how many drinks are consumed per day;
• choosing certain foods;
• taking vitamins and other medications.

The risk of dehydration increases while awaiting birth because there is a greater than normal demand for water in the body. It is necessary to maintain the volume of circulating fluid required by fetal development and normal metabolism.

Doctors recommend vitamins and iron to all pregnant women. Excess water-soluble vitamin C and B microelements will change the color of urine to a brighter yellow. This will be noticeable within a few hours after taking the vitamins.

A urinary tract infection can lead to worse pregnancy outcomes. Problems will manifest themselves in premature birth, rupture of membranes. If the urine becomes dark, cloudy, has an odor, a burning sensation or pain, you should consult a doctor. Urinary tract infections caused by bacteria can cause urine to appear green. This is a serious reason to see a doctor. Blood in the urine is called hematuria.

Carrots and their juice can cause the appearance of an orange tone due to the carotene substance contained in this vegetable. Sweet potatoes will do the same. Such transformations are within normal limits. This is not a reason to give up fruits and vegetables, which are important foods in the diet of an expectant mother.

Problems with different organs

Liver problems can cause dark urine. This condition is often accompanied by defecation with light-colored feces and yellow (with jaundice) eyes.

Urine can also be a sign that your blood sugar levels are high. If you have other symptoms (dehydration, frequent urination, lethargy), you should talk to your doctor about checking to see if diabetes treatment is needed.

Changes in the tone of this fluid excreted from the body may be a sign of problems with the kidneys or bladder function. If your urine becomes cloudy or has a strong odor, this may be a sign of a bladder or kidney infection. This assumption is mainly confirmed by the occurrence of symptoms such as pain during urination, fever, and vomiting.

Infections may be accompanied by bleeding in the urinary tract, which can change the tone of the urine. Blood in the urine is one of the reasons why the urine turns red. Harmless causes of redness in urine indicate the presence of beets or blackberries in the diet.

Bleeding caused by kidney problems is much less common in children than in adults. Although some rare disorders can cause it, some of them include:

• Henoch-Schönlein disease;
• hemolytic uremic syndrome;
• Wilms tumor.

Any bleeding from the urinary tract in children is considered abnormal. In this case, it is necessary to urgently seek immediate medical help.

In this case, the fluid removed from the body must be checked for the presence of infection-causing bacteria. Before you consult with your doctor, you should prepare a list of answers to the basic questions he will ask, such as:

• when the patient first noticed changes;
• what his diet consisted of recently;
• what medications or supplements he takes;
• whether there is any intense physical activity in his daily schedule;
• have there been any sleep disturbances recently;
• Is the bowel movement normal and regular?
• is there a rash on the body;
• whether the patient has had headaches recently;
• whether he had any problems with his vision.

Advanced age increases the risk of changes in urine tone. For example, kidney or bladder cancers are common in older people. Men over 50 years of age will find blood when urinating if they have an enlarged prostate gland.

Other urine colors

If the color of your urine is outside the yellow spectrum, you should consult a doctor. This especially applies to cases with a brown tone. You should also seek medical attention if the color is red, blue or green. Medicines that change the color of urine to brown include:

• antipsychotic drugs such as chlorpromazine and thioridazine;
• antibiotics such as Metronidazole and Nitrofurantoin;
• medications whose action is directed against epilepsy attacks (Phenytoin).

A condition called porphyria causes the discharge to appear dark purple in color. Porphyria is a rare metabolic disorder. Urine may turn green due to:

• medicines containing phenol, such as Promethazine, used for allergies and nausea, and Propofol, a drug used in anesthesiology;
• antidepressants (Amitriptyline, Cimetidine);
• medications that reduce the amount of stomach acid produced;
• painkillers (Indomethacin).

Green discharge may be caused by an intestinal disease called ulcerative colitis. The disease causes the fluid excreted from the body to develop a color that matches the tone of food that is usually not able to be properly digested by the organs of the digestive system or that was absorbed through the affected intestinal lining of the patient.

Cloudy discharge often indicates a number of possible problems. In women, it can be caused by vaginal discharge. Another reason for this is too much mineral content in the body, such as calcium. Excess protein in urine can also lead to this.

Urine is a biological fluid of the body containing the end products of metabolism. In a healthy body, its color ranges from light yellow to bright straw shades. But during the day there is a repeated change in the color characteristics of urine. It depends on the drinking regime, food, physical stress, ambient temperature, and the use of medications. If changes in the color of urine are isolated and are caused by the above reasons, then there is no reason to worry. If persistent amber coloration of urine is noted, this is a reason to consult a doctor.

Natural causes of dark urine

Insufficient fluid intake. If a person drinks little water or there is a significant loss of it due to increased sweating, diarrhea or vomiting, then the amount of urine released is very small. At the same time, its density increases and the liquid becomes amber in color. These changes are temporary, which means the shade of urine quickly normalizes when drinking a sufficient volume of liquid.

Eating brightly colored foods. The reasons for darkening of urine may be the use of foods such as carrots, oranges, beets, spinach, legumes, and blueberries. The urine then turns orange, red, or dark. Similar changes in the color of urine occur when consuming drinks, creams, and confectionery products containing food coloring. After 24 hours of use, the color of the released liquid is restored.

Use of certain medications. The use of vitamin complexes, drugs that include aspirin, nitrofuran, sulfonamide substances, and certain groups of antibiotics also entails a change in the color of urine to dark. It may last another one or two days after the end of the course of treatment, and the urine finally takes on a standard appearance after three to five days.

The reasons why urine color changes to darker in men may be due to great physical stress during training or sports. Proper rest and drinking plenty of fluids will normalize this indicator.

In young children, urine may change color during fever, which is explained by an increase in its concentration due to dehydration and intoxication. In addition, inadequate clothing for the baby and walks in the midday heat can lead to overheating and a decrease in the amount of fluid secreted, which means a change in its color.

During pregnancy, a woman's urine may also darken. In the early stages of pregnancy, this is explained by dehydration due to symptoms of toxicosis.

But this happens especially often in the second half of the term, when the fetus reaches a significant size and can disrupt the functioning of the liver and gall bladder, while the amount of bile pigments in the blood, and therefore later in the urine, increases. Another reason for darkening of urine in pregnant women is that the kidneys are also in a compressed position and as a result of this, unfavorable processes are observed in them. During such a period, not only pigments, but also leukocytes, and a significant amount of salts and mucus may appear in a woman’s urine. However, these changes are also temporary and go away on their own after the baby is born.

Pathological causes of dark urine

Dark urine, as mentioned earlier, is not always a sign of illness. Short-term changes in the shade of the secreted liquid may be due to physiological factors. You should consult a doctor when changes in the urine last a long time and are accompanied by the following symptoms:

• change in color of the skin, mucous membranes and eye sclera;
• fever;
• frequent headaches;
• itching of the skin and rashes on it;
• increasing weakness;
• lower back pain;
• dyspeptic disorders;
• pain when urinating.

Remember that such symptoms are a sign of a serious pathology that has already gone far in its development, so do not hesitate to visit a doctor and do not try to treat yourself - do not waste precious time.