he color change of the urine

*Definition
*causes
*Consequences

How do you define a color change of the urine?
It's simple: the urine must be light yellow, with no strong odor. Depending on its dilution, it can take different "normal" shades, from almost transparent to darker yellow.

That said, any pronounced changes in color, density or odor can reveal a health problem. The appearance of urine has been used by doctors for centuries to decipher the health status of their patients.

By playing a role of "purifier", the urine evacuates soluble waste filtered by the kidneys (initially present in the blood). So we understand that it says a lot about substances in the blood, whether excess protein, sugar, bacteria or other microbes.

What are the causes of a color change in the urine?
Urine owes its yellow color to a pigment called urobilin, which results from the breakdown of hemoglobin.

When the urine is very clear, it is very diluted. On the contrary, if it is dark yellow, it is a sign that you are not hydrated enough.

Foods that are consumed may also affect the appearance of the urine. This is particularly the case of beetroot, which can stain pink urine (and stool). Asparagus, on the other hand, can quickly change the smell of urine. These changes are transitory and not serious.

Changes in urine staining, however, may indicate the presence of a potentially serious disease. Without being exhaustive, here is a list of colors that urine can take and related health problems:

if the urine is brown: either it is very concentrated (it is therefore necessary to rehydrate as soon as possible), or it may be a liver disease or porphyria, a metabolic disease that gives the urine a color " porto "characteristic.
if the urine is pink or red: unless you have eaten red berries, rhubarb or beets recently, the red color should be consulted: it usually reveals the presence of blood in the urine. It can be a urinary infection, kidney, but also cancer or prostate problems. It is therefore an urgent reason for consultation.
If the urine is orange: again, it may simply be too concentrated, or reveal a gall or liver problem. Some food colors (sometimes contained in commercially available vitamins) can also stain the urine orange, including carotenes. Ditto for some drugs, like rifampicin, an antibiotic.

If the urine is bluish or greenish, it may be a rare genetic disease, or the effect of bacteria in the urinary system (including Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Some drugs can also dye urine, such as methylene blue (but also indomethacin, amitriptyline, triamterene, etc.).

If the urine is gray or blackish: the blackening of the urine on contact with the air is characteristic of the presence of homogentisic acid, caused by a rare genetic disease called alkaptonuria.
If the urine is whitish or milky: this may be the consequence of the presence of lipids in the urine (lipiduria) or the presence of chyle (chyluria), a fluid present in the lymphatic vessels of the small intestine (some parasites may cause chyluria).
If the urine is foamy: it may be too much protein in the urine (proteinuria)

Finally, a change in the smell of urine must also lead to consulting your doctor.

What are the consequences of a change in urine color?
As we have seen, abnormal staining of urine can reveal the presence of a potentially serious disease, such as cancer.

Before you panic, ask yourself if you have not used an unusual drug or a food that may color your urine. If in doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

The treatment will of course depend on the disease in question.