This is a comment I frequently hear from patients describing the color of their urine after taking a B-complex or multivitamin. I think the general thinking is incorrect about what this means.
For most people seeing the bright yellow color, they think that they are urinating out all of the “extra” or “un-needed” vitamins. They think that the yellow color is the color of the vitamins and since they were not absorbed, they get filtered through the kidneys and therefore come out in the urine.
This is not exactly the case. IF you are seeing bright yellow after taking a B-complex or multivitamin, then you can be ASSURED that you ARE indeed getting those vitamins in. The reason is that in order for the vitamins to get to the kidneys, they FIRST have to be absorbed by our red blood cells. And to get to the red blood cells, they HAVE to be absorbed from our GI tract when we digest and absorb these vitamins. So you can feel rest assured that if your urine is bright yellow, you are INDEED absorbing the vitamins you are taking.
People are always wondering if they are actually absorbing the vitamins they are taking. It is a common question about which form of vitamin is best: liquid vs. capsule vs. tablet. Well, an easy way for you to tell if you are absorbing those vitamins, is to look at the color of your urine–if it is bright yellow (about 4-6 hours after ingestion), then yes, you are absorbing those vitamins. If your urine never turns this bright, highlighter color, then no, you are not absorbing the vitamins into your red blood cells. This is also a way to see if the vitamins you are taking, contain enough of the vitamins you need. Again, if you see the bright yellow colored urine, you know that you are getting a great supply of vitamins to your red blood cells. And if not, either you need to try a more comprehensive vitamin OR you are not absorbing yours well.
Tags: vitamins