Urine Color: Physical Examination

Urine color depends on several factors, such as hydration level, diet, and health conditions. Here are some of common physical colors of urine are mentioned:

Urine Color Examination

1. Yellow
2. Clear
3. Dark Yellow
4. Orange
5. Red/Pink
6. Brown
7. Cloudy
8. Green
9. Blue
10. Black

1. Yellow

Yellow color of urine is normal, can be denser from pale yellow to amber/hey-yellow. Yellow color in urine can indicate:

• Normal hydration: A pale yellow urine color is normal and indicates proper hydration.
• Dehydration: Dehydration or concentrated urine may be the cause of a darker yellow urine color.
• Bilirubin levels: Yellow urine color can also be a sign of elevated bilirubin levels, which may indicate liver or gallbladder disorders.
• Dietary influences: Consuming foods high in beta-carotene (e.g., carrots, sweet potatoes) or rhubarb can temporarily turn urine color to yellow.
• Medications: Certain medications, like riboflavin (vitamin B2) or phenazopyridine, can turn urine to yellow color.
• Liver function: Yellow color of urine can be a sign of liver dysfunction or disease, such as jaundice.

 Also read: LFTs: Liver Function Tests

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs): In some cases, yellow urine may be a sign of a UTI, especially if accompanied by other symptoms like burning during urination or abdominal pain.

2. Clear

Clear color of urine can be due to more use of liquid/water, oftenly indicates excessive hydration. The clear or transparent color in urine can indicate:

• Overhydration: Drinking excessive water can dilute urine, making it appear clear or pale yellow.
• Diabetes insipidus: A rare condition characterized by excessive thirst and urination, leading to clear urine.
• Diabetes mellitus: In some cases, clear urine can be a sign of uncontrolled diabetes, as the body tries to flush out excess glucose/hyperglycemia.
• Kidney function: Clear urine can indicate proper kidney function and adequate hydration.

Also read: RFTs: Renal Function Tests

• Medications: Certain medications, like diuretics, can increase urine production and result in clear urine.
• Pregnancy: Some women may experience clear urine during pregnancy due to increased hydration and kidney function.
• Liver function: In rare cases, clear urine can be a sign of liver disease or damage, as the liver is not producing enough bilirubin.

 Also read: LFTs: Liver Function Tests

3. Dark Yellow 

Dark Yellow color of urine can indicate:

• Dehydration: Concentrated urine due to inadequate hydration.
• Liver or gallbladder issues: Elevated bilirubin levels, indicating potential liver or gallbladder problems.
• Kidney issues: Dark yellow urine can be a sign of kidney concentration problems or kidney disease.
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs): In some cases, dark yellow urine can be a sign of a UTI, especially if accompanied by other symptoms.
• Medications: Certain medications, like some antibiotics or chemotherapy drugs, can turn urine dark yellow.
• Food and drinks: Consuming large amounts of yellow-colored foods or drinks, like rhubarb or carrot juice, can temporarily turn urine dark yellow. Also Read: Nutrition

• Supplements containing vitamin B2 (riboflavin) or vitamin B12 can cause dark urine to appear.
• Kidney stones: In some cases, dark yellow urine can be a sign of kidney stones.
• Liver disease: Dark yellow urine can be a sign of liver disease, such as jaundice.

4. Orange

Orange shade of pee might can be show:
• High bilirubin levels: Orange urine can be a sign of elevated bilirubin levels, indicating potential liver or gallbladder issues.
• Medications: Certain medications, like some antibiotics, can turn urine orange.
• Carotenoids: Consuming large amounts of carotenoid-rich foods, like carrots, sweet potatoes, or orange vegetables, can temporarily turn urine orange.
• L-ascorbic acid enhancements: Taking high dosages of L-ascorbic acid can turn pee orange.
• Kidney issues: on occasion, orange pee can be a sign of kidney issues, for instance, kidney disease or kidney stones.
• Urinary Track Infections (UTIs): Orange pee can be an indication of a UTI, particularly whenever joined by different side effects.
• Liver sickness: Orange pee can be an indication of liver illness, like jaundice.
• Gilbert's syndrome: A harmless genetic disorder that affects bilirubin processing, causing orange urine.
• Foods and drinks: Consuming certain foods or drinks, like beets, rhubarb, or orange soda, can temporarily turn urine orange.

5. Red/Pink

Red/Pink may indicate:

• Blood in the urine (hematuria): This can be due to various reasons such as:

Urinary tract infection (UTI)

Kidney stones

Kidney disease

Injury or trauma

Cancer (rarely)

• Hemoglobinuria: The presence of hemoglobin in the urine, which indicates the breakdown of red blood cells.
• Myoglobinuria: The presence of myoglobin in urine, indicating muscle damage or breakdown.
• Certain medications: Such as rifampin, phenazopyridine, or some chemotherapy drugs.
• Foods and drinks: Consuming beets, rhubarb, or certain food colorings can temporarily turn urine pink or red.
• Menstruation: In rare cases, menstrual blood can mix with urine, giving it a pinkish hue.
• Prostate issues: In men, red urine can be a sign of prostate problems, such as an enlarged prostate or prostate cancer.

6. Brown

Brown color is these signs indicate that bilirin level is very high because of the liver ailment or some obstruction. The brown color in urine can indicate:

• Bilirubin levels: High levels of bilirubin, a yellow pigment, can turn urine brown.
• Problems with the kidneys: Brown urine may indicate kidney disease, kidney stones, or an infection.
• Liver disease: Brown urine can be a sign of liver disease, such as cirrhosis or hepatitis.
• Meds: Certain drugs, similar to metronidazole or nitrofurantoin, can turn pee brown.
• Foods and drinks: Consuming large amounts of rhubarb, beets, or certain food colorings can temporarily turn urine brown.
• Dehydration: Concentrated urine can appear brown due to low water intake.
• UTI: In some cases, brown urine can be a sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI).
• Prostate issues: In men, brown urine can be a sign of prostate problems, such as an enlarged prostate or prostate cancer.
• Melanuria: An intriguing condition where pee contains melanin, the shade liable for skin and hair tone.

7. Cloudy

The cloudy color in urine can indicate:

• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): Bacteria in the urine can cause cloudiness.
• Kidney Stones: Small particles or sediment in the urine can give it a cloudy appearance.
• Kidney Disease: Cloudy urine can be a sign of kidney disease, such as nephrotic syndrome.
• Proteinuria: Excess protein in the urine can cause cloudiness.
• Pyuria: The presence of white blood cells in the urine can lead to cloudiness, which is a sign of an infection.
• Hematuria: Red blood cells in the urine can give it a cloudy appearance.
• Contamination: Urine can become cloudy if it comes into contact with bacteria or other contaminants during collection or storage.
• Medications: Certain medications, like some antibiotics, can cause cloudy urine.
• Diet: Consuming large amounts of certain foods, like dairy products or soy milk, can cause cloudy urine.
• Pregnancy: Cloudy urine can be a sign of a urinary tract infection or other issues during pregnancy.

8. Green

Green Urine color detected rarely, urine may appear green due to certain medications or conditions affecting the liver or bile ducts. The green color in urine can indicate:

• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): Certain bacteria, like Pseudomonas aeruginosa, can produce a green pigment called pyocyanin.
• Medications: Some medications, like phenazopyridine (Pyridium) and methylene blue, can turn urine green.
• Food coloring: Consuming large amounts of green-colored foods or drinks, like green Jell-O or green Kool-Aid, can temporarily turn urine green.
• Cystitis: Inflammation of the bladder can cause green urine.
• Kidney stones: Some kidney stones, like those caused by a urinary tract infection, can produce green urine.
• Familial hypercalcemia: A rare genetic disorder that affects calcium levels in the body, causing green urine.
• Biliverdin: A rare condition where urine contains biliverdin, a green pigment produced during bilirubin breakdown.
• Pseudomonas infection: A bacterial infection that can produce a greenish-blue pigment.
• Urethral stricture: A narrowing of the urethra can cause green urine.

9. Blue

The blue color urine can indicate:

• Medications: Certain medications, like methylene blue or indomethacin, can turn urine blue.
• Food coloring: Consuming large amounts of blue-colored foods or drinks, like blueberries or blue Kool-Aid, can temporarily turn urine blue.
• Familial hypercalcemia: A rare genetic disorder that affects calcium levels in the body, causing blue urine.
• Biliverdin: A rare condition where urine contains biliverdin, a blue pigment produced during bilirubin breakdown.
• Pseudomonas infection: A bacterial infection that can produce a blueish-green pigment.
• Methylene blue test: A diagnostic test used to detect certain urinary tract disorders, which can temporarily turn urine blue.
• Rare genetic disorders: Certain genetic conditions, like argininemia or hyperargininemia, can cause blue urine.
• Urinary tract infection (UTI): In some cases, a UTI can cause blue urine.

10. Black

Black Urine Color when urine leaves urethra and come in contact of air. The black color of urine is a rare and unusual finding that can indicate:

• Alkaptonuria: A rare genetic disorder that affects the breakdown of certain amino acids, causing urine to turn black.

• Melanuria: A condition where urine contains melanin, the pigment responsible for skin and hair color, which can turn urine black.

• Homogentisic aciduria: A rare genetic disorder that affects the breakdown of certain amino acids, causing urine to turn black.

• Tyrosinemia: A rare genetic disorder that affects the breakdown of the amino acid tyrosine, causing urine to turn black.

• Liver or kidney sickness: at times, dark pee can be an indication of liver or kidney infection, like liver disease or kidney disappointment.
• Certain medications: Some medications, like metronidazole, can turn urine black.

• Foods and drinks: Consuming large amounts of certain foods or drinks, like blackberries or dark-colored soda, can temporarily turn urine black.

• Disease: In uncommon cases, a urinary lot contamination (UTI) can cause dark pee.

The information provided by this review highlights that cancer diagnosis can accompany such urinary symptoms as different urine color and therefore, it is necessary to consult with the doctor to find out details about one’s situation and get the proper treatment.  So, avoid self-medication.  Colored urine from white to pale yellow is good hydration for the kidney or is a sign of good health whereas deep yellow colored urine might possibly indicate a problem in the urinary system.  It is recommended to consult with a healthcare provider instead of using some online self-diagnosis resources, as certain medications and products are also known to only change the hue of urine temporarily.  Deep red or pink color of urine, brown, cloudy, green, blue and black urine should be reviewed by a medical doctor or specialist for advise on the right treatment.  Therefore, in case one finds herself/himself in a strange colored or any other type of concerning urination episode, it is advised to visit a qualified healthcare provider for proper diagnosis, better understanding, or proper advice.