What Vitamins Can Make Your Pee Red?

January 8, 2026 •

4 min read

While seeing red or pink urine can be alarming, it is not always a sign of a serious medical condition. High-dose vitamin B12, particularly the hydroxocobalamin form, is one of the few vitamins that can make your pee red, though this is a benign side effect.

Quick Summary

Changes in urine color, including reddish or pinkish tones, can be linked to specific supplements, medications, or dietary choices. While high-dose B12 can cause harmless discoloration, the red hue is often tied to foods or is a sign of a serious medical issue.

Key Points

High-Dose B12: Specific forms of vitamin B12, like injected hydroxocobalamin, can cause harmless reddish urine due to its natural red pigment.
Dietary Pigments: Foods such as beets, blackberries, and rhubarb are common causes of reddish-pink urine (beeturia) and are usually benign.
Not all Vitamins are Culprits: Other vitamins, such as excess riboflavin (B2) and C, typically result in bright yellow or orange urine, not red.
Distinguish Benign from Serious: Unlike harmless vitamin or food effects, persistent, dark, or bloody urine accompanied by pain can indicate a serious medical condition and requires a doctor's evaluation.
See a Doctor if Uncertain: If red urine lasts for more than a day or two, or if you have any other concerning symptoms, consult a healthcare provider to rule out issues like infections or kidney stones.
Iron Supplements: Note that while not a vitamin, some iron supplements can cause darker, even black, stools and urine, not typically red urine.

Understanding Chromaturia: Benign vs. Concerning Causes

Chromaturia is the medical term for abnormal urine discoloration, which can range from red and orange to blue or green. While the normal color is a pale yellow, influenced by hydration levels, certain substances can dramatically alter this hue. When addressing what vitamins can make your pee red, it's crucial to understand that the most common causes of red urine are not vitamins but certain foods, medications, or, more seriously, blood.

Vitamin B12: The 'Red Vitamin' Effect

The most notable vitamin that can lead to reddish or pinkish urine is vitamin B12, specifically when administered in high doses via injection or through a specific formulation like hydroxocobalamin. This is because hydroxocobalamin is a deeply red-colored compound. Your body will excrete any excess B12 it doesn't need via the kidneys, causing the urine to take on a reddish hue. It's a harmless, temporary side effect, but its resemblance to blood in the urine (hematuria) can cause unnecessary alarm. Standard oral B12 supplements are far less likely to cause this effect, and the reddish color from injections typically subsides within a few days.

Other Vitamin-Related Urine Discoloration

While B12 is the primary culprit for a reddish tint, other vitamins can cause different colors:

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): Excess riboflavin is often flushed from the body and causes urine to appear a vivid, almost neon yellow color. This is a very common side effect of many multivitamins.
Vitamin C: High doses of vitamin C supplements can also lead to brightly colored, orange-yellow urine. This is due to the excretion of excess water-soluble vitamin C.
Beta-Carotene (Vitamin A precursor): While not a vitamin in itself, consuming large amounts of beta-carotene, such as by eating many carrots, can give urine a yellowish-orange tint.

Foods That Can Turn Your Urine Red or Pink

Before you blame your vitamins, consider your diet. Several foods contain natural pigments that can easily pass through your system and color your urine. The most common include:

Beets: The red pigment in beets, called betanin, can cause a harmless condition known as beeturia in some people. This is more common in individuals with an iron deficiency or certain genetic traits that affect how they metabolize the pigment.
Blackberries: The anthocyanin pigments in blackberries can temporarily stain urine pink or red.
Rhubarb: Consuming large amounts of rhubarb can also lead to reddish or dark brown urine.

Potential Medical Causes for Red Urine

It is vital to distinguish benign causes from more serious medical conditions. Persistent or unexplained red urine should always be evaluated by a healthcare provider. The most serious cause is hematuria, or blood in the urine. This can be a sign of many issues, including:

Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Kidney or bladder stones
Enlarged prostate (men only)
Kidney disease
Urinary tract cancers
Vigorous exercise, such as long-distance running

Comparison of Causes for Reddish Urine

To help you differentiate between causes, consider the following comparison:


Feature	Benign Causes (Foods/Vitamins)	Concerning Causes (Medical)
Appearance	Reddish-pink, clear, or uniform color. Often comes and goes depending on consumption.	Dark red, cloudy, or with visible clots or specks of blood. Persists over time.
Timing	Occurs shortly after consuming a trigger food or receiving a high-dose injection.	Can occur at any time and may not be linked to recent diet or supplement changes.
Associated Symptoms	No pain, fever, or other urinary symptoms.	Often accompanied by pain during urination, abdominal pain, fever, urgency, or back pain.
Persistence	Resolves within 24-48 hours once the substance is out of the body.	Persists or returns frequently. Should not be ignored even if it seems to clear up.

When to Consult a Doctor About Red Urine

While occasional reddish urine from beets is generally harmless, you should always err on the side of caution. See a healthcare provider if:

The red or pink discoloration persists for more than a couple of days.
Your urine is accompanied by abdominal pain, fever, or painful urination.
You see any visible clots or signs of blood.
You suspect the discoloration is from a vitamin but are still concerned about its cause.

For more detailed information on hematuria and when to seek medical advice, consult reliable sources like the Cleveland Clinic or Mayo Clinic.

Conclusion: Know the Difference and Stay Informed

The phenomenon of red urine can be a harmless side effect of high-dose vitamin B12 or a simple matter of diet. However, it can also be a critical warning sign of an underlying medical problem. By considering what you have consumed and observing for accompanying symptoms, you can better determine the cause. Always consult a healthcare professional to rule out more serious issues, as persistent red urine that isn't clearly from a known dietary source should not be ignored.

Frequently Asked Questions

It is highly unlikely for a standard multivitamin to make your pee red. The B12 content is generally too low, and other components cause different colors, such as the neon yellow from excess B2.

Red urine from foods like beets is temporary and has no other symptoms. If the redness persists beyond a day, appears dark or cloudy, or is accompanied by pain, fever, or urgency, it is more likely from a medical cause like hematuria and requires a doctor's visit.

No, high doses of vitamin C can cause urine to appear a brighter yellow or orange, but it is not known to cause red urine.

Hydroxocobalamin is a red-colored compound used in high-dose vitamin B12 injections. Because it is naturally red, the excess amount your body doesn't use is excreted, temporarily coloring the urine.

The reddish color from excess B12 is temporary. It typically resolves within a day or two as your body flushes out the extra substance.

Medical conditions that cause red urine (due to blood) include urinary tract infections, kidney stones, kidney disease, enlarged prostate, and urinary tract cancers.

If you suspect the discoloration is from a high-dose B12 injection and it's temporary, it is not necessary to stop. However, if the color persists or you are concerned, consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis.