Why urine color is a key indicator of a person’s health – 2024-04-28 08:23:21

2024-04-28 08:23:21

He body has and produces certain indicators that allow you to get conclusions about general health. One of them is the urinewhich can vary color and provide information relevant that specialists know how to interpret.

According to experts at the United States health and research center Mayo Clinic, the normal urine color varies from light yellow to pale or straw yellow. “However, some things can change the color: Foods such as beets, blackberries, and beans can cause a pink or red color, For example. Also, some medications can give you vivid hues, like orange or blue-green.”

Mayo Clinic also details that “the usual color of urine varies depending on the amount of water you drink. Liquids dilute the yellow pigments and, therefore, the more water you drink, the clearer the urine. When you drink less, the yellow color is more intense.”

The NIH points out that healthy urine should have a pale yellow color, indicating adequate fluid intake (Freepik)

Along these lines, recently, researchers from the University of Maryland and the United States National Institutes of Health They identified the microbial enzyme responsible for giving urine its yellow hue. The study was published in the journal Nature Microbiology.

The discovery of this enzyme, called bilirubin reductase, paves the way for future research into the role of the gut microbiome in ailments such as jaundice and inflammatory bowel disease. This enzyme discovery finally unlocks the mystery behind yellow urine color. It is surprising that an everyday biological phenomenon has remained unexplained for so long, and the team of scientists has been excited to explain it.

In their writing, the professionals have indicated that when red blood cells degrade after their six-month useful life, a by-product is produced. bright orange pigment called bilirubin. This is normally secreted into the intestine, where it is intended to be excreted, but it can also be partially reabsorbed. Excess reabsorption can cause a buildup of the substance in the blood and cause jaundice, a condition that causes yellowing of the skin and eyes. Once in the intestine, the resident flora can convert bilirubin into other molecules.

Certain foods and medications can alter the color of urine, producing shades such as pink, red, orange or greenish blue (Illustrative Image Infobae)

Gut microbes encode the enzyme bilirubin reductase that converts bilirubin into a colorless byproduct called urobilinogen, which then spontaneously breaks down into a molecule called urobilinwhich, ultimately, is responsible for the yellow color that we all know, according to experts.

According to what is published on MedlinePlus, the site of the United States National Library of Medicine, “normal urine can vary in color, from almost colorless to dark yellow.”

In the same sense, the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) postulate that if the person “is drinking enough fluid, the urine should be pale yellow.”

An unusual urine color may indicate health problems, such as urinary tract infections, kidney stones, cancer or liver problems, according to the NIH (Illustrative Image Infobae)

According to the NIH, “you should drink enough fluid to make you feel like urinating every 2 to 3 hours. The patient must know what is normal for him and avoid dehydration. You should consult with a health care professional about how much fluid you should drink based on your size, activity level, and where you live. Water is the best drink. However, if the patient has kidney or heart failure, he should not drink too much water.”

Mayo Clinic specialists contribute: “Individual water needs depend on many factors, including your health, how active you are, and where you live. For the average adult, the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that an adequate daily fluid intake is as follows: approximately 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids per day for men; approximately 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids per day for women.”

“An unusual color of urine can be a sign of a health problem. For example, some urinary tract infections can cause milk-white urine. Kidney stones, some types of cancer and other diseases sometimes make it appear red due to blood,” the American health center explains.

Problems urinating can be related to various conditions such as kidney failure, urinary infections, enlarged prostate, incontinence or interstitial cystitis (Freepik)

And they suggest that, in the following cases, you should go to a professional: “Blood in the urine: this is common in the case of urinary tract infections and kidney stones, problems that often cause pain. Painless bleeding may be a sign of a more serious problem, such as cancer. Dark or orange urine: This can be a sign that the liver is not working properly, especially if you also have pale stools and yellow eyes and skin.”

Meanwhile, MedlinePlus postulates that a person “may have problems urinating if they suffer from kidney failure; urinary tract infections; enlarged prostate, bladder control problems such as incontinence, overactive bladder or interstitial cystitis; an obstruction that does not allow you to empty your bladder. Some conditions can cause your urine contain blood or protein”.

In an article by CNN, the urologist Jamin Brahmbhattwho is also a robotic surgeon at Orlando Health, stated that there are cases in which urine can be seen blue or green. “It may be surprising, but it could be due to certain medications or dyes in food,” he explained.

Source: INFOBAE