Can Probiotics Change Your Urine Color? (dark, cloudy, or orange?)

As someone who has spent years studying gut health, I can attest to the fact that the topic can be both fascinating and complex. Recently, there has been a lot of buzz around probiotics and how they can improve overall health, including bladder health.

But have you ever wondered if probiotics can change the color of your urine?

As a gut health expert, I’ve delved into the research to provide you with a comprehensive answer.

You will also find out in what cases the changes in your urine color should concern you.

How Do Probiotics Effect Urine?

Probiotic supplements may change the color and smell of the urine, but they may not occur due to the microbial species in them but to some other ingredients.

Before I get into the details, it is important that you understand your urinary system and the importance of microbes in it.

The Urinary System And Its Relation With Probiotics

Normally, most parts of the urinary system, such as the kidney, and ureter, are believed to be sterile and resistant to bacterial colonization due to immune function.

Still, a 2019 review discusses the urinary bladder as a non-sterile organ with its own unique microflora.

For now, scientists are still determining how and from where the establishment of the urobiome occurs.

But, this 2021 paper has hypothesized that the vagina may contribute to the microflora for the urinary bladder in females as their communities are identical and they are also anatomically closer to each other.

This indicates that oral probiotics, especially those that are targeted to improve gut health, may not influence your urinary tract a lot because they preferably colonize the small intestine and colon.

However, oral probiotics (especially those targeted for vaginal health) are somewhat successful in preventing UTIs, but intravaginal and intravesical probiotics have even greater effectiveness for this purpose.

This may make you wonder how men acquire their urinary microbiome, and only time will tell.

Overall, studies suggest that Corynebacterium and Streptococcus are more abundant in the male urobiome and the Lactobacillus species in women.

Therefore, if you notice changes in urine due to probiotic intake, it may be due to other ingredients in the industrially manufactured supplements instead of its strains.

Nonetheless, many users have asked doctors about the changes in their urine color after probiotic intake.

And according to the expert’s opinion, you do not need to be bothered by it if you observe changes in just the smell or color and there are no associated symptoms like pain.

Here are answers to some questions that may arise in your minds with respect to the probiotic effect on urine.

Effect of Probiotics on urine smell

A 24-year-old posted for help on Health Tap because she felt that her urine smell went too strong after taking probiotics for the first time.

To this, Dr. James Rochester replied that, like antibiotics, probiotics might also cause a change in the urine odor. 

He further added that you don’t need to be concerned if it is the only symptom that you are facing and there is no pain during urination or any change in its frequency.

Can Probiotics Cause Dark Urine?

Yes, there are some reports of users experiencing dark urine due to probiotic intake.

For instance, a 19-year-old male asked on the health tap platform whether his probiotic supplements could be the cause of his dark orange-yellow urine, which gets lighter with increased water intake.

To this, Dr. Derrick Lonsdale replied from his 75 years of experience that this affair is completely normal and a sign of health. 

Additionally, he mentioned that the yellow color of urine is caused by the pigment urochrome.

Do Probiotics Make Your Pee Orange?

Yes, users are concerned about excreting orange urine after probiotic intake, but the pills may not have caused it directly.

For instance, a 45-year-old asked the exact same question on health tap.

In reply, Dr. Hermilando Payen, who has 58 years of experience in the field, wrote that probiotics are unlikely to cause orange urine and instead, might be indicating dehydration.

So, he recommended he start drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day and see if it normalizes his urine color.

Do Probiotics Make Your Pee Green?

I could not find any reported cases of green pee caused due to probiotics.

In most cases, green pee may be caused due to UTIs caused by the bacteria pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Or, this might become the case if the probiotic pill contains any artificial green color.

Do Probiotics Cause Bright Yellow Urine?

 It is possible for probiotics to cause bright yellow urine, but it is completely normal.

A person asked on Just answer medical if he has been getting very yellow urine and some other symptoms after taking the Align probiotics, and he was wondering if they had a connection.

In response, Dr. Su wrote that more yellow urine due to probiotics is possible, and it may be caused due to Vitamins or low fluid intake.

Can Probiotics Cause Cloudy Urine?

No, probiotics can not cause cloudy urine. To date, no medical evidence has proved otherwise.

In fact, results of research conducted at PCORI regarding the use of probiotics to deal with infections in the urinary tract causing smelly and cloudy urine state that individuals who used probiotics had fewer symptoms post-treatment than those who didn’t.

Some other possible reasons for having cloudy urine could be an STI, UTI, prostatitis, diabetes, or merely dehydration.

Related Post: Can Probiotics Make You Pee More?

3 Reasons Why Probiotics Cause Change In Urine Color

It is normally not a problem if your urine changes color due to probiotic intake.

But, if you are curious about why it is happening, here are some possible reasons.

1. The Fiber May Cause Dark-Coloured Urine

Most probiotic supplements contain prebiotic fiber such as inulin or fructooligosaccharide.

There is no denying that fiber amplifies the benefits of the supplement, but it draws water into the bowel to regulate bowel movements. 

Hence, its excessive intake may cause dehydration which may cause dark-colored urine if you are not drinking enough water with your supplements.

Regarding this, the USDA recommends women consume about 25 grams of fiber daily, and men take 38 grams of it.

2. The B-Vitamins May Cause Bright Yellow, Dark Yellow, Or Orange Urine

According to Medical News Today and Ufhealth.org, taking B vitamins like vitamin B 12 and B 2 (Riboflavin) may cause the bright yellow, orange, or dark yellow color of urine, but it is completely harmless.

Certain probiotics, especially those that are targeted to aid weight loss, have added B vitamins because they play roles in energy metabolism.

One example of such a probiotic is Culturelle Metabolism + Weight Management which contains vitamins B6 and B12.

3. Artificial Dyes May Cause Green Pee

You may urinate green pee If your probiotic contains a water-soluble green color of methylene blue.

These artificial dyes are not absorbed in the body and are excreted via the kidneys hence the change in urine color.

So, try to look for natural and organic probiotics.

Should You Be Concerned If Probiotics Change Your Urine Color?

You don’t need to be concerned about probiotics urine change because, as explained above, it can possibly be due to dehydration, vitamins, or water-soluble dyes in the supplements.

However, if the urine changes are accompanied by frequent urination, abdominal pain, burning while peeing, or pain while urinating, it may indicate a disease or infection.

Furthermore, apart from the urine colors that I have discussed in this article, if you notice blood in the urine or red, pink, cloudy, or brown urine, then visit your doctor immediately for his advice because that are also signs of problems in the urinary tract or kidney.