Dark Yellow Urine Causes - What Does It Indicate?

Urine gets its healthy yellow colour from urobilin. Urobilin is otherwise also called urochrome, and it is a pigment that is produced as a waste product during haemoglobin breakdown.

Urobilin or urochrome is a tetrapyrrole dicarboxylic acid that gives urine its usual colour. The colour of urine also depends on the concentration of urobilin or urochrome. The diluted urobilin or urochrome is, the lighter the colour of the urine. Similarly, the higher the concentration of urobilin or urochrome, the darker the colour of the urine will be. 

There are several factors that may be causing dark yellow urine. Additionally, dark yellow urine may also indicate how healthy an individual is. The various dark yellow urine causes include the following, 

1. Dehydration 
   In most cases, dark yellow urine indicates dehydration. One of the most common causes of dark yellow urine is not drinking enough water and fluids. And usually, hydrating or drinking enough water can resolve the condition. 
   Extreme dehydration may also give a strong smell to the urine along with dark yellow colour along with an increased concentration of urobilin or urochrome, leading to dark yellow-coloured urine. 
2. Jaundice 
   Neonatal jaundice or jaundice in newborn babies is extremely common. Now, the urine of babies is supposed to be colourless. However, if the baby has neonatal jaundice, it can cause dark yellow urine. 
3. Presence of bilirubin 
   Bilirubin is a substance that is produced as an end product of haemoglobin (heme) degradation (breakdown). When excessive bilirubin appears in the urine, it will cause dark yellow urine. In some patients, conjugated or direct bilirubin may appear in the urine; however, bilirubin (conjugated) is not supposed to be present in the urine. The presence of bilirubin in the urine and the appearance of dark yellow-coloured urine may be early signs of liver problems like hepatitis.  
4. Taking certain medicines
   Certain medicines may cause the urine to turn dark yellow. For example, medicines like sulfasalazine or nitrofurantoin may cause the urine to become dark yellow in colour, 
5. Oliguria
   It is a condition in which the output of urine is low. This may be due to dehydration, certain medicines, or any blockage in the urinary tract. One of the symptoms of oliguria is dark yellow to amber-coloured urine. 
6. Vitamin B or beta carotene
   Eating foods that are a rich source of beta carotene or vitamin B or taking supplements containing beta carotene or vitamin B may cause the urine to turn dark yellow to orange in colour. 
7. Urinary Tract Infections
   If the person is infected with a urinary tract infection, then apart from dark yellow colour, the urine may also look cloudy and have a strong smell to it. Other symptoms that may accompany dark yellow urine include pain in the lower back, burning sensation while urinating (dysuria), and constant urge to pee. 
8. Haemolytic anaemia
   Haemolytic anaemia is a condition where the destruction of the red blood cells in the body is faster than their production. There are several symptoms that indicate individuals being affected with haemolytic anaemia. One of the symptoms of hemolytic anaemia includes a dark colour of the urine. 
9. Cirrhosis
   When the liver tissues are scarred as a result of long-term damage, liver cirrhosis occurs. Infections from viruses, chronic alcohol consumption, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, cystic fibrosis or use of certain medicines can cause liver scarring. One of the most common symptoms seen in patients having liver cirrhosis is dark colored urine. 
10. Gallstones or Cholelithiasis
    When the cholesterol found in the bile hardens, stones can form in the gallbladder. These stones in the gallbladder are called gallstones. Jaundice is a common condition observed in patients having gallstones because the gallstone may pass through the gallbladder and deposit itself on the bile duct responsible for carrying bile juice, thereby blocking the flow of the bile. Since dark yellow coloured urine is usually a symptom of jaundice, it may also be seen in a person having gallstones. 
11. Biliary obstruction
    Biliary obstruction occurs when the flow of bile from the liver and into the intestines is impaired by a blockage in the bile duct. As a result of the blockage in the bile duct, bilirubin cannot leave the body through bile, leading to its accumulation. When excessive bilirubin is accumulated in the blood, it causes jaundice. Dark urine in patients having biliary obstruction is seen due to jaundice. 
12. Glomerulonephritis 
    Glomerulonephritis occurs when the glomeruli which are responsible for filtering the blood, become inflamed. This inflammation of the glomeruli can make it difficult for the kidneys to filter blood. Glomerulonephritis may cause the urine to darken. 
13. Certain Cancers 
    Certain cancers like cancers of the pancreas, liver and colon may cause jaundice in the patient. Due to jaundice, the patient will experience dark yellow-coloured urine.

Where usually dark yellow urine is not a cause of concern, it is better to seek medical advice if it doesn’t get better with proper hydration. The following measures can be taken for treating dark yellow urine, 

1. Adequate hydration: In most cases, dark yellow-coloured urine may be caused due to dehydration. Apart from dark yellow-coloured urine, feeling dizzy, dryness in mouth, constipation, headaches, and dry skin may also indicate dehydration. Drinking enough water will usually resolve the dark yellow urine problem. (21)
2. Seeking medical help: Getting treatment for the causes of dark yellow urine, like jaundice, oliguria, and bilirubin in urine, may help in treating the dark yellow colour of the urine. If the dark yellow colour of the urine is caused due to supplements or medicines, then asking the doctor for advice or dose adjustment can help with the dark yellow colour of the urine. 

The colour of a person’s urine indicates their health and lifestyle. Several factors may be causing dark yellow urine. These factors include dehydration, neonatal, oliguria, certain supplements and medicines, presence of bilirubin in the urine, gallstones, certain cancers, glomerulonephritis, urinary tract infections (UTIs), liver cirrhosis and haemolytic anaemia. 

It is important to recognise and acknowledge when a persistent change in the colour of the urine is noticed. This is because changes in urine colour can be due to an underlying liver condition. Hence, if you notice any abnormal changes in the colour of the urine along with other associated symptoms, do reach out to a doctor to seek medical help immediately! 

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