The Impact of Diet and Medications on Chromaturia
Chromaturia, the abnormal discoloration of urine, can result from dietary components and pharmacologic agents that alter pigment concentration or metabolic by-products. Foods such as beets, berries, and carrots may introduce natural pigments that temporarily shift urine color without clinical significance. In contrast, medications can produce more pronounced changes; for example, rifampin may cause orange urine, while certain antimalarials may yield brown or black hues. Understanding these influences supports more accurate differential diagnosis and patient counseling. Healthcare distributors, including a nitazoxanide wholesaler, often provide guidance on medication-related urine changes to help clinicians distinguish benign effects from pathologic causes.