Vitamin B Complex is a term used while referring to a whole group or family of important water-soluble vitamins. In the beginning, Vitamin B was considered just one single vitamin, but people have now realized that this group consists of eight different vitamins, ranging from Vitamin B1 to Vitamin B12. There are several health benefits that each of these 8 vitamins that belong to the B-complex family have to offer. These health benefits include:
Unfortunately, most people do not get the required intake of Vitamin B from their diets, which could cause them to suffer from various health problems. You will know that you are suffering from a deficiency of Vitamin B complex, in case you happen to notice symptoms like:
In case you are suffering from a deficiency of this essential vitamin, your doctor may advise you to increase your intake of foods high in Vitamin B, which usually include:
Alternately, you may also be asked to add a Vitamin B complex supplement to your diet. However, before you take this supplement, it is important for you to know about any possible side effects that you may experience. Members of the B complex family are the vitamins that cause yellow urine.
Almost all brands of B complex vitamins change urine color, including the ones that are labeled “super”. Soon after you take your first Vitamin B supplement, you may notice that your urine is bright of fluorescent yellow in color. This happens because B complex vitamins are water soluble. The molecules of this vitamin are yellow, which causes your urine to change color, as your body flushes out the doses that do not get used. Foods that are high in Vitamin B could also be one of the reasons of yellowish urine.
The changes in the color of urine may depend upon the type of Vitamin B you are taking. Certain vitamins like Vitamin B1 which is thiamine, Vitamin B3 or Niacin and also Vitamin B6 also known as Pyridoxine are known to be white in color in their natural form. Therefore, there should be no significant change in pyridoxine, niacin and thiamine urine color. However, Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) is orange in color and therefore, it is also possible for your urine to turn orange in color because of this vitamin.
Since you are taking vitamins that cause yellow urine, you have nothing to be worried about if you notice urine color changes. Yellow or orange colored urine does not mean that you are taking an excess amount of B complex vitamin. In fact, if there is no change in the color of your urine after adding a B complex vitamin to your diet, it probably means that your brand of vitamins is not being absorbed by your body. In such cases, it may be best for you to change brands.
Many people ask their doctors if B complex vitamin turns urine green. There is no single member in the B complex group that causes your urine to turn green in color. However, certain combinations of the B vitamins found in complex formulas may have this effect on your urine color. In case you are concerned about passing green urine, it is best for you to speak with your doctor about it.
Change in the color of urine is one of the milder side effects of Vitamin B complex supplements. However, some of the other side effects associated with these vitamins may be more serious, such as:
You may notice these side effects even if you take Vitamin B complex in the recommended doses. Therefore, it is important to check with a doctor before increasing your consumption of Vitamin B rich foods or adding a Vitamin B supplement to your diet.
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