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Q J Med 1995; 88: 711-717
© 1995 Association of Physicians

Beeturia and colonic oxalic acid

M.A. EASTWOOD and H. NYHLIN*

Gastro Intestinal Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital Edinburgh, UK

Address correspondence to Dr M. Eastwood, Gastro Intestinal Unit, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XU

Received 14 November 1994 Accepted for publication 2 June 1995.


  Abstract

Beeturia is the excretion of red beetroot pigment (betalaine) in urine and faeces. It occurs in about 14% of humans. Betalaine is a redox indicator whose colour is protected by reducing agents. We investigated pigment-decolourizing systems in the intestinal tracts of beeturic and non-beeturic subjects. Betalaine was decolourized by hydrochloric acid, ferric ions and colonic bacteria preparations, but not by pancreatic or mucosal enzymes. In animals, oral betalaine did not produce beeturia, but injection of betalaine into the peritoneum did. Oral betalaine and 1 g oxalic acid produced beeturia in non-beeturic normal humans, but passed into ileostomies without beeturia. Thus, beeturia results from colonic absorption of betalaine. Oxalic acid preserves the red colour to the colon, otherwise it is decolourized in non-beeturic individuals by nonenzymic processes in the stomach and colon.

*Present address: Department of Medicine, Umea University Hospital, S-901 85 Umea, Sweden


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