The urine of a healthy person has a transparent straw-yellow hue and does not contain any impurities. In some cases, the secreted biological fluid may acquire a dark brown color. Any person can experience fluctuations in the saturation of urine - this can be a physiological phenomenon.
However, under some circumstances, a change in shade may indicate disturbances in the functional activity of certain organs and the development of pathological processes in them. In our article we will talk about the main natural and pathological causes of darkening of urine, what to do if a person produces beer-colored urine and how to prevent the development of a serious disease.
What causes variations in urine color?
The biological fluid secreted by a properly functioning organism is light yellow in color. Depending on the diet and the amount of fluid consumed, slight fluctuations in its color are observed.
Sometimes a person notes that his urine is similar in color to strong tea or beer. In some cases, this phenomenon is caused by natural causes, and in others by pathological factors.
The natural cause of darkening of urine is an increase in the level of urochrome (a coloring derivative of bile pigments).
This may be caused by:
- increased sweating during intense physical activity or during the hot season;
- a consequence of the development of inflammatory processes in the body that provoke an increase in body temperature;
- vomiting or diarrhea for a long period;
- toxicosis during pregnancy;
- insufficient intake of lost fluid.
Some foods and medications can also change the usual color of urine. The presence of a “beer” tint is observed with excessive consumption:
- beef;
- rhubarb;
- legumes;
- strong black tea.
Of the medications that may cause changes in urine color, the following can be noted:
- Activated carbon;
- laxatives;
- B vitamins;
- nitrofurans;
- medications that contain molecules of aromatic hydrocarbon derivatives - lysols and phenols.
The color of urine can be affected by any other synthetic medications that contain coloring pigments.
There are also unnatural causes of fluctuations in urine color that are pathological in nature. These include quite unpleasant and, in some cases, dangerous diseases:
- infectious and inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary organs – urethritis, cystitis, pyelonephritis, vaginitis (in women), prostatitis (in men);
- urolithiasis of the gallbladder and kidneys;
- liver dysfunction;
- blood diseases;
- renal failure;
- autoimmune pathologies;
- the presence of neoplasms in the urinary tract.
Let's take a step-by-step look at the circumstances under which different people produce urine that is the color of beer.
When is there no need to worry?
Sometimes there is no need to worry about the fact that your urine has acquired a strange color. This is due to the fact that the human body sometimes reacts to a particular product or drug in such an unusual way, namely, it colors the urine a beer-colored color.
Don't worry if:
- the man had not drunk water for a long time; he had been tormented by thirst for some time. Often body fluid may become dark in the morning, after sleep;
- regular consumption of coloring drinks with chemical, harmful additives;
- excessive consumption of strong alcoholic drinks;
- medications;
- eating large quantities of: green beans, carrots, beets, and soybeans. And beer urine can also be due to overeating sweets;
- if the urine is dark in color due to the above reasons, then there is no reason to worry, a person should simply reconsider his lifestyle and try to eat wisely and play sports.
What disease does dark urine in a child indicate?
The color of baby urine depends on the food consumed by the baby. That is why, when a child secretes dark biological fluid, you need to remember what he ate the day before. If this symptom is accompanied by painful sensations when emptying the bladder, nausea, and high body temperature, this indicates the development of a pathological process of bacterial or viral origin in the child’s body.
Most often, such clinical signs are observed with urinary tract infections, which rank second after colds.
The peculiarity of the child’s body is that the inflammatory process is not localized in a specific place - it affects both the lower and upper parts of the urinary tract.
If the shade of children's urine changes, it is necessary to consult a practicing pediatrician - he will examine the child, prescribe the necessary tests and the appropriate course of treatment.
Hepatitis
The causes of changes in the color and consistency of urine like dark beer include not only diseases of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. Very often, this picture can be caused by inflammation of the liver tissue - hepatitis. Moreover, this applies not only to viral damage to hepatocytes. Urine resembles beer in toxic, drug-induced and autoimmune hepatitis.
Damage to liver tissue leads to a decrease in its functions. The ability to form proteins and enzymes primarily suffers. The liver is involved in the neutralization of bilirubin using the enzyme glucuronyl transferase, synthesized by hepatocytes. With hepatitis, the conjugation process does not occur. Therefore, urobilinogen, otherwise called mesobilinogen, appears in the blood and then in the urine. Its penetration causes darkening and foaming.
To confirm the diagnosis, you should take a blood test for the enzymes ACAT, ALAT, as indicators of cytolysis. In addition, the level of blood bilirubin and the presence of urobilinogen in the urine should be assessed.
Why does urine darken in men and women?
A “beer” shade of urine in women is observed when there are problems with the genitourinary organs; this phenomenon is facilitated by the development of:
Causes of dark urine in men
- Endometriosis is the growth of cells of the inner layer of the uterine walls (endometrium) beyond its boundaries. This pathological process is common among women of reproductive age.
- Pyelonephritis is a nonspecific inflammation of the renal tubules. Its development is caused by pathogenic microorganisms.
- Ureteritis is inflammation of the walls of one or both ureters. Most often, the development of the disease is provoked by an infection that has spread from the urinary canal or bladder.
- Colpitis, vulvitis - inflammation of the mucous membranes of the genital tract.
To establish the true cause of dark urine, a woman needs to undergo a comprehensive examination. In representatives of the stronger half of humanity, urine may acquire a brown tint if there are problems with the prostate gland.
The peculiarities of the anatomical structure of the male urethra are such that prostate secretions and seminal fluid exit through it - various impurities contained in their composition can affect the coloring of urine. Urine also darkens if a man has bad habits.
A rich brown color of urine in older men is observed with prostate adenoma - this case requires urgent consultation with a urologist or andrologist
Both men and women should pay special attention to the appearance of such characteristic symptoms as:
- loss of appetite;
- heat;
- constant feeling of thirst;
- yellowness of the skin and sclera;
- increased urge to empty the bladder;
- pain during urination;
- arterial hypertension;
- severe pain in the right hypochondrium;
- weight loss;
- fast fatiguability;
- headache and muscle pain;
- discoloration of stool.
If these clinical signs are present, a person needs urgent medical attention.
Hemolytic jaundice
This situation can occur among people of different ages: both in pediatric practice and among geriatric patients. Hemolysis can occur in the following conditions and diseases:
- transfusion of foreign blood,
- Rhesus conflict,
- hereditary hemoglobinopathies,
- deficiency of enzyme systems or enzymopathy,
- hemolytic anemia,
- taking hemotropic poisons (poisoning).
With these pathologies, the amount of indirect bilirubin fraction increases. This substance is hydrophobic and lipophilic, that is, it is highly soluble in fats and insoluble in water. It is transported in the blood using albumin, a protein that in this case performs a transport function.
Under normal conditions, urine does not contain indirect bilirubin. If hemolytic jaundice occurs, this compound is filtered by the kidneys. Given the chemical properties (surface active compound) of indirect bilirubin, it foams the urine. It becomes dark due to an increase in its quantity.
Dark urine during pregnancy
During the period of bearing a baby, a change in the shade of urine is a physiological phenomenon. However, a pregnant woman should periodically undergo laboratory testing of this biological substance to exclude the presence of pathogens that provoke the development of infectious diseases. In some cases, the urine darkens if the expectant mother has severe toxicosis - during this period the female body becomes dehydrated.
A pregnant woman should consume at least two liters of fluid per day - and the urine will return to normal color
Prevention
Rules that must be followed to prevent urine from being the color of beer:
- You should not drink more than 2 liters of water per day;
- stay hydrated;
- visit your doctor in a timely manner and get checked for infectious diseases;
- intimate hygiene must be observed;
- monitor the absence of sexually transmitted diseases;
- if possible, do not abuse medications that will affect the color of urine;
- reduce the consumption of foods that can change the color of urine;
- don’t be patient, go to the toilet as soon as possible;
- give up alcoholic drinks, try not to smoke;
- try not to gain excess weight, play sports, and watch your diet.
Possible pathologies
These signs, unlike natural ones, should already cause concern, because they cannot be associated with serious inflammatory processes in the body. The disease must be urgently diagnosed and treated immediately.
Beer-colored urine causes associated with a number of diseases:
- jaundice;
- affected liver. Perhaps the person is sick with hepatitis or cirrhosis. In this case, urine may become colored due to the fact that it is affected by bilirubin;
- one of the diseases that causes the loss of large amounts of fluid in the body;
- inflammatory process. It may be associated with kidney disease, and this also includes polycystic disease, urolithiasis, the appearance of kidney cysts and tumors;
- prostatitis;
- diseases associated with infection or inflammation of the female genital organs.
You should not diagnose yourself prematurely and self-medicate, this can lead to negative consequences. If you have any doubts, you should visit your doctor and tell them about your discomfort.
Dyeing mechanism
Under normal conditions, urine is straw-yellow, amber, or lemon-colored. Any shades of yellow are not considered pathological. What ensures normal coloration of urine?
This is due to bilirubin metabolism. With the oxidation and other biochemical modifications of bilirubin intermediates, urobilinogen and stercobilinogen appear in the blood. These compounds are filtered by the kidneys.
When urobilinogen and stercobilinogen enter the urine, when exposed to air, they react with oxygen and are converted into urobilin and stercobilin. These pigments give normal color.
In addition, urine is colored by urochromes.
