Ever wonder why urine is yellow? Researchers say they’ve figured it out.
Ur-ine luck if you’ve always wondered why pee is yellow.
Researchers identified the enzyme responsible for urine’s color, unraveling a mystery that’s puzzled scientists for years, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Nature Microbiology.
“It’s remarkable that an everyday biological phenomenon went unexplained for so long, and our team is excited to be able to explain it,” Brantley Hall, an assistant professor in the University of Maryland’s Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, said in a news statement.
too much water, and the color of light straw and honey, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It turns a darker yellow or amber in those who aren’t drinking enough.
Other colors can come from your diet or medical conditions.
Dark brown urine could be a sign of dangerous dehydration, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The color could also mean there’s bile in your urine, which is a sign of liver disease.
Orange urine is also sometimes a sign of dehydration, but it may also mean you have a liver or bile duct condition. The color could also be tied to food dye or medications.
Certain foods and medications can also lead to blue or green urine. According to a Harvard Health post, the antidepressant amitriptyline and the anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin can turn urine blue.
Pink to reddish color could be a cause for concern, or it could just mean you’ve been eating beets, blueberries or rhubarb. If those foods haven’t been in your diet and your urine is still pink or reddish, there may be cause for concern. The color could be a sign of several conditions, including kidney disease, lead poisoning and certain types of cancer.
Aliza Chasan
Source: cbsnews.com