beeturia

Beeturia is the passage of red or pink urine after consuming beets. It is typically benign and transient, not a sign of blood in the urine. The effect is caused by betalain pigments, especially betanin, found in beets. In some people, these pigments are absorbed and excreted in the urine, imparting a reddish color that can range from pink to deep red.

The exact reason why beet pigment appears in urine in some individuals and not others is not fully understood. Variation in digestion, metabolism, urine pH, and gut microbiota can influence how much pigment is excreted. The color change often occurs within a few hours of eating beets and may last up to 24 to 48 hours, depending on the amount consumed and individual factors.

Clinical significance and evaluation: beeturia can mimic hematuria (blood in urine), so it is important to distinguish between pigmenturia and actual blood. If the red urine appears soon after beet consumption and subsides without other symptoms, beeturia is likely the cause. A urinalysis can help; if there are no red blood cells on microscopy and the dipstick test is negative for blood, this supports beeturia. If red urine persists without beet intake or is accompanied by urinary symptoms (pain, frequency, fever), or there is a concern for bleeding, medical evaluation is warranted.

Management and prognosis: no specific treatment is needed for beeturia. Avoiding beets will typically prevent recurrence. The condition is considered benign, with no inherent health risk when due to beet consumption. If color change is unexplained, a healthcare provider can assess for other causes of red urine.