Beeturia
Encyclopedia
Beeturia is passing of red or pink urine
after eating beet
s. It affects 10-14% of the population. While some believe it to be an autosomal recessive trait, it has been shown that individuals differ over time in having beeturia. Beeturia can appear and disappear in individuals. It may also cause red or pink feces.
pigments (e.g., betacyanins in beetroot
passed through the body).
Beeturic individuals have more oxalic acid
in the intestines, preserving the pigment from being degraded in nonenzymic processes in the stomach and colon
, which causes more pigment to be available for absorption; as a result, the urine will be colored. The concentration of colonic oxalic acid depends on the residue of the enteric oxalic acid not absorbed from the small intestine, which can vary between individuals, and be particularly high in malabsorption
syndromes involving oxalic acid. The gut flora
plays an uncertain role in breakdown of pigment.
Beetroot beeturia is more common in cases of iron deficiency
with augmented iron absorption. It occurs in 66-80% of individuals with untreated iron deficiency anemia
, 45% of individuals treated for pernicious anemia
(augmented iron absorption due to vitamin B12
administration), and 33% of non-anemic patients with both malabsorption
and biopsy-confirmed jejunal
atrophy, as the jejunum plays an important role in iron absorption. Furthermore, at least some of the 14% incidence in the general population may be due to the fluctuating nature of iron absorption in normal individuals.
It does not seem to arise from deficiencies in hepatic metabolism or renal excretion. Uptake seems to be largely dependent on gastric pH and emptying rate.
A single gene variant has been proposed as a cause, but the condition mainly seems to be determined by the general physiological state of the body. B.S.
The degree of beeturia depends on the type of beetroot (for instance, the pigment concentration of the Detroit Rubidus variety is twice that of the Firechief variety), the times of planting and harvesting, addition of concentrated beetroot extract to certain brands, preparation (with boiled beetroot not predictably leading to beeturia, whereas pickled beetroot does, and addition of acid vinegar may alter the state of the oxalic acid) and intestinal function.
Urine
Urine is a typically sterile liquid by-product of the body that is secreted by the kidneys through a process called urination and excreted through the urethra. Cellular metabolism generates numerous by-products, many rich in nitrogen, that require elimination from the bloodstream...
after eating beet
Beet
The beet is a plant in the Chenopodiaceae family which is now included in Amaranthaceae family. It is best known in its numerous cultivated varieties, the most well known of which is the purple root vegetable known as the beetroot or garden beet...
s. It affects 10-14% of the population. While some believe it to be an autosomal recessive trait, it has been shown that individuals differ over time in having beeturia. Beeturia can appear and disappear in individuals. It may also cause red or pink feces.
Cause
The red color seen in beeturia is caused by the presence of betalainBetalain
Betalains are a class of red and yellow indole-derived pigments found in plants of the Caryophyllales, where they replace anthocyanin pigments. Betalains also occur in some higher order fungi. They are most often noticeable in the petals of flowers, but may color the fruits, leaves, stems, and...
pigments (e.g., betacyanins in beetroot
Beetroot
The beetroot, also known as the table beet, garden beet, red beet or informally simply as beet, is one of the many cultivated varieties of beets and arguably the most commonly encountered variety in North America, Central America and Britain.-Consumption:The usually deep-red roots of beetroot are...
passed through the body).
Beeturic individuals have more oxalic acid
Oxalic acid
Oxalic acid is an organic compound with the formula H2C2O4. This colourless solid is a dicarboxylic acid. In terms of acid strength, it is about 3,000 times stronger than acetic acid. Oxalic acid is a reducing agent and its conjugate base, known as oxalate , is a chelating agent for metal cations...
in the intestines, preserving the pigment from being degraded in nonenzymic processes in the stomach and colon
Colon (anatomy)
The colon is the last part of the digestive system in most vertebrates; it extracts water and salt from solid wastes before they are eliminated from the body, and is the site in which flora-aided fermentation of unabsorbed material occurs. Unlike the small intestine, the colon does not play a...
, which causes more pigment to be available for absorption; as a result, the urine will be colored. The concentration of colonic oxalic acid depends on the residue of the enteric oxalic acid not absorbed from the small intestine, which can vary between individuals, and be particularly high in malabsorption
Malabsorption
Malabsorption is a state arising from abnormality in absorption of food nutrients across the gastrointestinal tract.Impairment can be of single or multiple nutrients depending on the abnormality...
syndromes involving oxalic acid. The gut flora
Gut flora
Gut flora consists of microorganisms that live in the digestive tracts of animals and is the largest reservoir of human flora. In this context, gut is synonymous with intestinal, and flora with microbiota and microflora....
plays an uncertain role in breakdown of pigment.
Beetroot beeturia is more common in cases of iron deficiency
Iron deficiency (medicine)
Iron deficiency is one of the most common of the nutritional deficiencies. Iron is present in all cells in the human body, and has several vital functions...
with augmented iron absorption. It occurs in 66-80% of individuals with untreated iron deficiency anemia
Iron deficiency anemia
Iron-deficiency anemia is a common anemia that occurs when iron loss occurs, and/or the dietary intake or absorption of iron is insufficient...
, 45% of individuals treated for pernicious anemia
Pernicious anemia
Pernicious anemia is one of many types of the larger family of megaloblastic anemias...
(augmented iron absorption due to vitamin B12
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12, vitamin B12 or vitamin B-12, also called cobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin with a key role in the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system, and for the formation of blood. It is one of the eight B vitamins...
administration), and 33% of non-anemic patients with both malabsorption
Malabsorption
Malabsorption is a state arising from abnormality in absorption of food nutrients across the gastrointestinal tract.Impairment can be of single or multiple nutrients depending on the abnormality...
and biopsy-confirmed jejunal
Jejunum
The jejunum is the middle section of the small intestine in most higher vertebrates, including mammals, reptiles, and birds. In fish, the divisions of the small intestine are not as clear and the terms middle intestine or mid-gut may be used instead of jejunum.The jejunum lies between the duodenum...
atrophy, as the jejunum plays an important role in iron absorption. Furthermore, at least some of the 14% incidence in the general population may be due to the fluctuating nature of iron absorption in normal individuals.
It does not seem to arise from deficiencies in hepatic metabolism or renal excretion. Uptake seems to be largely dependent on gastric pH and emptying rate.
A single gene variant has been proposed as a cause, but the condition mainly seems to be determined by the general physiological state of the body. B.S.
The degree of beeturia depends on the type of beetroot (for instance, the pigment concentration of the Detroit Rubidus variety is twice that of the Firechief variety), the times of planting and harvesting, addition of concentrated beetroot extract to certain brands, preparation (with boiled beetroot not predictably leading to beeturia, whereas pickled beetroot does, and addition of acid vinegar may alter the state of the oxalic acid) and intestinal function.