The color of your stools can be affected by anything you eat or drink. For example, eating beets might turn your stools reddish, while eating lots of green leafy vegetables can make your stool appear greenish. If your stool looks black or dark red, this might indicate the presence of blood. Even if you're taking supplements, it might be a good idea to talk to your doctor to eliminate the possibility of more serious causes, such as a bleeding stomach or gastritis.
Black Stools
Iron usually causes stools to darken. The actual color of the stools depends on a number of factors, such as how much iron you're taking and whether you're taking other vitamins as well. Black, dark grey or maroon stools are all possible when taking iron.
Greenish Stools
Multivitamins that contain chlorophyll can turn your stool green. It doesn't matter what the actual color of the vitamins is. The chlorophyll turns green as it is processed by your body.
Orange Stools
Orange or yellowish stools might be caused by large dosages of beta-carotene. If you're taking a multivitamin that has a normal amount of beta carotene, such as 100 percent of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), then look at the color of the vitamins. If the tablet itself is orange or dark yellow, it probably contains artificial colorings and they can be the cause of the change in the color of your bowel movement.
Considerations
Certain vitamins can change the color of the urine. For example, vitamin B2 can darken the urine or turn it orange. Yellow stools are rare but usually indicate malabsorption problems. If you're taking a multivitamin and you notice your stool turning pale or yellow, check your multivitamin for add-ons. Products like chitosan and other fat blockers are sometimes added to multivitamins. Fat blockers can cause your body to dispose of fat rather than process it. This can show in the form of a light-colored stool.
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