Urine can turn dark due to dehydration, kidney or bladder infection, eating too many deep-colored foods such as beets, or drinking lots of soda. However, people might also experience a darkening of urine when taking multivitamin supplements. This usually occurs with beta-carotene or B-complex vitamins.
Multivitamins
Multivitamins are supplements sold over-the-counter that contain both vitamins and minerals, and are designed to be taken once or twice daily. These multivitamins contain all the essential vitamins and minerals needed to sustain good health. People who take multivitamins might experience side effects such as headache, nausea or constipation. Multivitamins that contain high levels of B-vitamins or vitamin A might cause dark urine.
B-Complex Vitamins
B-complex vitamins include vitamins B-9, or folic acid, and B-12. B-complex vitamins are responsible for converting food to energy in the body and regulating nerve transmissions as well as muscle contraction and expansion. B-complex vitamins are found in most foods, but you might also take B-complex in the form of a supplement. B-complex supplements might cause urine to change colors. According to Medline Plus, B-complex vitamins might cause urine to turn dark yellow or orange.
Beta-Carotene
Beta-carotene, or vitamin A, is used to maintain healthy eyes. Beta-carotene is found in foods such as sweet potatoes and carrots. Because foods and supplements with beta-carotene contain dark pigmentation, people who use large amounts of beta-carotene supplements or eat heavy quantities of foods that contain beta-carotene on a regular basis might pass darker urine.
Consideration
Although supplements might cause your urine to be darker than normal, you might want to see your physician to make sure it is definitely caused by your supplements. Your doctor will ask you questions such as when you noticed the change in your urine, what color it was, if there was blood in it or if it had an unusual odor. He might also ask you what medications you're taking, or if you're eating any foods with coloring added, such as beets or candy.
