I just started taking multi-vitamins, and my urine is now fluorescent yellow! Is this a bad thing? Has anyone else noticed this? what does it mean?

You're peeing out the excess vitamins your body hasn't absorbed. Not necessarily a bad thing.

You're peeing out the excess vitamins your body hasn't absorbed. Not necessarily a bad thing.

I know someone who had his pee turn green for this reason!

This happens to everybody, don't worry about it. It's a good way to remember if you've taken your vitamin that day.

This way, if you go to the bathroom at night and accidentally sprinkle a little on the toilet seat, you´ll see it without turning on the light.

I asked this question a while ago, and I never really got an answer that satisfied me (no offense to anyone who tried). My pee turns fluorescent too, but only since I started taking Trader Joe's multi-vitamins. I have taken other multis with similar ingredients that didn't cause this to happen. I'm not concerned that this is dangerous, I'm just curious why it happens. To add to Superjane's question, what exactly is it in some multi-vitamins that causes this? Does anyone know?

I just started taking multi-vitamins, and my urine is now fluorescent yellow! Is this a bad thing? Has anyone else noticed this? what does it mean?

Muppetcow is right, it also helps if you drink tons of water. :up:

I'm pretty sure that it's one of the B vitamins that the body can't absorb all that is in the multi. Different multis have different levels of vitamins so there might not be as much of one vitamin as there is in another.

I'm pretty sure that it's one of the B vitamins that the body can't absorb all that is in the multi. Different multis have different levels of vitamins so there might not be as much of one vitamin as there is in another.

Correct. I believe it is the combination of all the B vitamins, not just 1. Correct me if I am wrong.

Extra water does help if you are getting ultra-dark urine the rest of the day. However, if it is just the glowing urine after taking the vitamin, it's just your body getting rid of the leftover B vitamins.

It's extra riboflaven (I'm not sure which B that is). I think I picked that info up in Becoming Vegan, but I can't be sure. Apparently, it's pretty easy to get too much ribo, we don't need much and such ubiquitous things as bread are fortified with it, so the bright yellow is from that particular vitamin.

BTW, I take the Trader Joe's multi-vits and the same thing happens to me. They must be loaded with the stuff.

I asked this question a while ago, and I never really got an answer that satisfied me (no offense to anyone who tried). My pee turns fluorescent too, but only since I started taking Trader Joe's multi-vitamins. I have taken other multis with similar ingredients that didn't cause this to happen. I'm not concerned that this is dangerous, I'm just curious why it happens. To add to Superjane's question, what exactly is it in some multi-vitamins that causes this? Does anyone know?
I don´t know for Trader Joe´s, but check for dyes as well, tartrazine would be fluorescent yellow. B-vitamins tend to produce a darker yellow.
Riboflavin is B2. And I agree with Quizeen that it would be the most likely reason.

it's definitely riboflavin. the b-vitamins i used to take were transparent capsules and the stuff inside looked highlighter yellow too. it happens to me when i eat stuff made with yeast flakes too (rich in B-vits).

also, the vitamins in different brands absorb defferently. Perhaps the brand you took that DIDN'T turn you pee yellow, had extra binders and fillers that inhibited absorption.

I also get bright yellow pee if I've consumed loads of vit C. Every so often I go on an orange juice kick and drink a gallon or so a day for 3 or 4 days. You could use my pee to guide ships to shore during that time!!

This happens when I have smoothies made with Source of Life. It doesn't bother me, It goes away after one peeing.

so basically, this is totally normal to happen? i took my first veganlife vitamins today and imagine my shock later on...lol...good to know some people have similar experiences at least!

:lol: i started the same exact thread, it's called Green Pee

As a few others have stated, the fluorescent yellow is attributed to the excess of riboflavin (B2) that your body doesn't absorb.

Very harmless, and as skylark mentioned:

This way, if you go to the bathroom at night and accidentally sprinkle a little on the toilet seat, you´ll see it without turning on the light.

Muppetcow is right, it also helps if you drink tons of water. :up:

My pee turns clear when I drink a ton of water. Am I broke?