beeturia

English

Etymology

beet +‎ -uria

Noun

beeturia (uncountable)

1. (medicine) The passing of red or pink urine after eating beetroot, caused by the excretion of betalain (betacyanin) pigments such as betanin.
   • 1964, Biochemical journal, volume 90, page 673:

     Like other alkaloids, it is poorly absorbed, so that even after eating large amounts of beetroot, beeturia (the presence of betanin in the urine) is found in only 14 % of the normal population (Watson, Luke & Inall, 1963).

   • 1967, J.B. Harborne, Comparative Biochemistry of the Flavonoids, page 294:

     The failure to metabolise betanin is controlled by genetic factors in man and beeturia (betanin in the urine) is found in approximately 14% of the population in this country (Watson, 1964).

   • 2016, Andy Brunning, Why Does Asparagus Make Your Pee Smell?: Fascinating Food Trivia Explained with Science‎^[1]:

     An unusual effect of beets is that they can cause “beeturia,” or a red coloration to the urine, after ingestion.

Synonyms

• betaninuria