Not The Color You Expected

The color of urine can provide some clues to someone’s health. For instance, a dark yellow color signals dehydration. Transparent colors can mean too much water in the body. However, not everyone expects a bright, almost neon color. That bright color can scare anyone the first time looking into the toilet, but there is a reason. Some B vitamins like riboflavin can change the color of urine, especially when taken in excess.

All about B

B vitamins are a group of 8 essential vitamins. Each of these vitamins supports hundreds of processes in the body. Most are involved at a cellular level, impacting energy levels, eyesight, muscle growth, and much more. B vitamins could be found in meat, fruit, nuts, and green vegetables. Food manufacturers also add B vitamins to foods and drinks. Vitamin B deficiencies can cause a range of health conditions, so some people take daily supplements called B-complex. Sometimes, B-complex can add much more than the recommended daily amount.

Why is your urine neon yellow?

A common side effect of riboflavin (B2) is neon yellow urine. Riboflavin helps convert food into energy, supports skin health, digestive health, and much more. The recommended supply is available in fish, almonds, red meat, and eggs. However, a supplement can add much more to the body than what’s required. The liver and kidney would process the vitamin and excrete the rest. Since riboflavin contains a unique fluorescent hue, the excess creates bright yellow urine. Other B vitamins that can cause bright yellow urine include folic acid (B9), and B12.

Is too much B a bad thing?

Sometimes, too many vitamin stores can cause hypervitaminosis. Most cases of hypervitaminosis are not life-threatening. However, some can have some unwanted side effects for specific vitamins, like A and D. Excess B vitamins like riboflavin and B12 do not pose health risks. The neon yellow urine is the body using what’s required and discarding the rest. Yet some B vitamins, like B3 and B6, are dangerous when consumed in large quantities. A daily intake of all 8 B vitamins is essential for health but in the right amounts.

Reducing vitamin B pee’ with proper multivitamins

A B-complex supplement is often the go-to for people looking to increase B vitamins. These supplements almost always have more than the daily recommended amount. Most B vitamins are in natural and fortified foods, though, so B-complex isn’t always necessary. The best bet should be to change to a multivitamin. Multivitamins contain smaller amounts of B vitamins along with other vitamins and minerals. Make sure to use a pharmacist-recommended or doctor-recommended multivitamin. Some may still have excess amounts, which can lead to overdosing.

Consider compounding your multivitamin.

What if there was a way to create a custom multivitamin? With compounding at a compound pharmacy, anyone can. Compounding is the process of making customized medication or supplements for patients from raw ingredients. A custom multivitamin can have the daily recommended B vitamins in an easily ingestible form. Compounding avoids overdosing on vitamins and that unnerving neon urine color.

Get the right B vitamins for you.

Excess riboflavin is one of the reasons behind yellow urine. Multivitamins with extra B2 or a B-complex could cause this experience. Excess B2 is not life-threatening, but overdosing on other vitamins could be severe. Getting a multivitamin with just the right amount is best. Speak with a pharmacist or a doctor for the best and safest supplement.