# Does the color of urine indicate the functionality of kidneys? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 29, 2001, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-color-of-urine-indicate-the-functionality-of-kidneys/90274 "2001-10-29T11:43:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-color-of-urine-indicate-the-functionality-of-kidneys/90274/1 "2001-10-29T11:43:43Z")
I was told by a source that is decidedly unqualified that, all things being equal, an orangish urine indicates that your kidneys have done their job of removing poisons from your body, while a clear urine indicates that the poisons remain and that your kidneys failed. Yellow is somewhere in between. A couple of questions here: (1) Is that in fact what is coming out in your urine, i.e., poison? (and wouldn’t that make “golden showers” dangerous?) and (2) Is there a correspondence between urine color and kidney functionality. ---
**Author:** ![AndyJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@AndyJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyJ)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-color-of-urine-indicate-the-functionality-of-kidneys/90274/2 "2001-10-29T11:50:02Z")
But I was always told that urine colour is a good indication of dehydration. The more towards bright orange it gets the more de-hydrated you are. The more you drink the less colour is present in your urine. **Daft example** Say you were in the pub and drank 7 pints of lager. When you go to the toilet your urine just looks like water. But when you get up in the morning and you’re dehydrated you urine looks like iron bru and smells of sugar puffs. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-color-of-urine-indicate-the-functionality-of-kidneys/90274/3 "2001-10-29T11:53:58Z")
Hmmm… I’m not sure that’s accurate at all, at least not in my case. I sip coffee and Kool-Aid (used to be tea, then Pepsi, now Kool-Aid) all day long every day. My urine is seldom clear. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-color-of-urine-indicate-the-functionality-of-kidneys/90274/4 "2001-10-29T11:55:02Z")
Dittos above. Dark-colored urine usually means you ain’t drinking enough. Not a good sign if you constantly have dark urine. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-color-of-urine-indicate-the-functionality-of-kidneys/90274/5 "2001-10-29T11:57:19Z")
I don’t know how I could possibly drink more without bloating out like a balloon on a Macy’s float. ---
**Author:** ![AndyJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@AndyJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyJ)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-color-of-urine-indicate-the-functionality-of-kidneys/90274/6 "2001-10-29T12:00:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Libertarian \* > \*\*Hmmm… I’m not sure that’s accurate at all, at least not in my case. I sip coffee and Kool-Aid (used to be tea, then Pepsi, now Kool-Aid) all day long every day. My urine is seldom clear. \*\* My example is of extreme hydration. 7 pints in 2 hours WILL make your urine clear, I know because I did it last night. Drinking throughout the day say over a period of 8 hours. Won’t make your urine clear. But as long as it’s not bright orange every time you go to the toilet I’m sure you have nothing to worry about. If it is drink more. If that doesn’t work see your doctor. ---
**Author:** ![McStain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@McStain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/McStain)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-color-of-urine-indicate-the-functionality-of-kidneys/90274/7 "2001-10-29T12:03:18Z")
About question number 1, I’m quite sterile that urine, having been treated by the kidneys, is completely sterile. Although I completely advise against it, I’m pretty sure you can even drink the stuff. At least I know, in some extreme cases, it has been done. Without subsequent urine-related death. Sorry. Chris. ---
**Author:** ![AndyJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@AndyJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyJ)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-color-of-urine-indicate-the-functionality-of-kidneys/90274/8 "2001-10-29T12:03:57Z")
Here’s a link which will help you. [http://www.canoe.ca/Health0109/04\_urine-ap.html](http://www.canoe.ca/Health0109/04_urine-ap.html) ---
**Author:** ![grettle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@grettle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grettle)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-color-of-urine-indicate-the-functionality-of-kidneys/90274/9 "2001-10-29T12:04:38Z")
to respond to the poison question: your body rids itself of waste, i.e. urine is the stuff your body doesn’t use. it is not poisonous externally, but if you rupture your bladder, it is poisonous to your insides and can kill you. side note: i was told by an experienced camper that your urine is actually sterile and in extreme situations can be used to clean a wound. ---
**Author:** ![Gartog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/22d042/32.png) [@Gartog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gartog)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-color-of-urine-indicate-the-functionality-of-kidneys/90274/10 "2001-10-29T12:06:36Z")
I believe this is to do with the amount of water in your urine, how diluted it is. I have read that certain chemicals can cause a change of colour, but I don’t know which ones. ---
**Author:** ![McStain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@McStain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/McStain)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-color-of-urine-indicate-the-functionality-of-kidneys/90274/11 "2001-10-29T12:08:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by McStain \* > \*\*About question number 1, I’m quite **sterile** that urine, having been treated by the kidneys, is completely sterile. Although I completely advise against it, I’m pretty sure you can even drink the stuff. At least I know, in some extreme cases, it has been done. Without subsequent urine-related death. Sorry. > > Chris. \*\* I hope it’s clear I was apologizign for my noun in place of verb. I just wanted to clarify that, yes, I am very embarrassed. One of these days, I’ll learn to preview my replies… ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-color-of-urine-indicate-the-functionality-of-kidneys/90274/12 "2001-10-29T12:17:08Z")
After my kidney stone party, the doctor told me to drink water every day until my urine was clear. You’d better believe that this guy is getting his MDR of H[sub]2[/sub]O every day. Never want another stone. Nope. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-color-of-urine-indicate-the-functionality-of-kidneys/90274/13 "2001-10-29T12:26:37Z")
Your liver comes into play somehow. When I had hepatitus, my urine turned to really dark colors and stank something awful. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-color-of-urine-indicate-the-functionality-of-kidneys/90274/14 "2001-10-29T12:29:16Z")
[More stuff about urinalysis.](http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/urinalysis/ui_exams.html) ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-color-of-urine-indicate-the-functionality-of-kidneys/90274/15 "2001-10-29T14:27:34Z")
Clear urine is a good sign. It’s what you actually want. I second the person who said that you should worry about your hydration level if your urine is constantly dark. Want a way to tell? Over the course of one day, drink a gallon of water. You’ll probably “piss like a racehorse” and it’ll be clear because you’re getting a lot of liquid. ---
**Author:** ![Starboogie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4bbf92/32.png) [@Starboogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starboogie)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-color-of-urine-indicate-the-functionality-of-kidneys/90274/16 "2001-10-29T14:40:44Z")
I know from experience that taking too much Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) will turn your pee a very exciting shade of bright yellow. One of many cites: [http://www1.health-center.com/pharmacy/vitamins\_descr/vitamin\_b2.htm](http://www1.health-center.com/pharmacy/vitamins_descr/vitamin_b2.htm) ---
**Author:** ![berdollos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@berdollos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/berdollos)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-color-of-urine-indicate-the-functionality-of-kidneys/90274/17 "2001-10-29T14:48:21Z")
and, as it developed, by urine would foam - from the protein in the urine. Toward the end (before I started dialysis) it was very light in color, and my skin developed a yellowish tinge and I began to smell like urine (according to my wife). ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-color-of-urine-indicate-the-functionality-of-kidneys/90274/18 "2001-10-29T14:53:52Z")
To get back to the OP. Except for obvious things like blood or pus in the urine, the colour of urine does not indicate kidney function. Urine colour can also change with liver disease and some rare metabolic conditions, but that’s for another thread. A very frothy urine, that isn’t secondary to peeing with vigor into the water, can indicate excessive amounts of protein in the urine (which is a bad thing). Conversely, people who have essentially non-functioning kidneys can still make urine\*, and its colour can look normal. As has been stated, dark urine often reflects some degree of dehydration. The fact the urine is dark in such a situation is reassuring since it attests to the functionality of the kidneys. [sup][sub]\*The production of urine does **NOT** imply that kidneys are filtering the blood properly. What’s critical is the composition of the urine - does it contain appropriate amounts of the various “poisons” and waste products, or is it essentially just water mixed with electrolytes.[/sub][/sup] ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-color-of-urine-indicate-the-functionality-of-kidneys/90274/19 "2001-10-29T14:57:03Z")
Lib, is this your own personal urine we’re talking about here? 😃 Speaking as one who has changed many diapers and has had ample opportunity to analyze pee: Normal urine ought to be light-yellow to nearly colorless, depending on how much liquid you’ve had to drink during the day. The more water you have in your system, the more is available to dilute the toxins, which are mainly urea, a nitrogenous compound (nitrogen being a by-product of the metabolism of protein). However, that first pee in the morning is usually a much darker shade of yellow, as you usually haven’t been drinking water in your sleep. If your urine is routinely a very dark yellow to orange color, no matter how much water you’re drinking, you really need to see a doctor and have it checked out. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-color-of-urine-indicate-the-functionality-of-kidneys/90274/20 "2001-10-29T16:23:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Duck Duck Goose \* > Lib, is this your own personal urine we’re talking about here? 😃 No, no. Nah. It’s a, er, […ahem…] a friend. Yeah, that’s the ticket. It’s a friend. I was asking for my, um, friend. Yeah.