What causes urine to become oily? Read on to learn more about the possible causes and reasons for oily or hue and appearance of urine.
There are a good number of things that may cause oiliness in your urine. This is as follows.
Ketone
Ketones – this is a chemical produced when there is a shortage of insulin in your blood, implying that there is little energy. Ultimately, some energy will be derived from these ketones for the body use purposes. When the body is in such a metabolic state, we refer to it as ketosis.
This condition is potentially a dangerous condition. This will depend on certain factors including the breakdown of carbohydrates by the body cells.
Usually, in order to make energy for body utilization, the body will usually break down the carbohydrates. And in that respect, in circumstances where the body uses all of its energy reserves, need attention will be turned to the fats stored.
Signs or symptoms that you may have ketones (ketosis)
Most signs will require that you see a health care or professional for confirmatory tests. Sometimes you are required to have to test your urine or blood.
- These are some of the guiding factors when to go for testing
- You feel more tired than usual
- You have an illness such as a cold or the flu
- You are more thirsty than normal or have mouth dryness
- Your blood sugar level is higher than 300 mg/dl
- You have nausea, abdominal pain, or are vomiting
- Your skin is flushed (warm with redness)
- You urinate more infrequently or than is usual
How can I prevent ketones in my blood or urine?
Can you prevent ketones? Keeping your blood sugar levels at recommended measure is one of the key steps towards ketones prevention.
Therefore:
- Monitor your blood sugar levels as directed. Report high or low levels of blood sugar to your healthcare provider. Keep in mind that early treatment of either (low or high blood sugar) will be very important to prevent ketones
- By taking insulin and diabetes medicines as directed by the health caregiver
- Stick to your meal plan and as directed or instructed. For more health-related purpose, it is safer to consult a healthcare provider. (Insist on a registered dietician)
- When you become sick make necessary changes to ensure your blood sugar does not reduce drastically
Other ways of ketone formation
What else can cause ketones in my blood or urine? These include the following:
- A diet that is low in carbohydrates or fat
- Drinking large amounts of alcohol
- Certain medicines such as medicine to treat Parkinson’s disease
- Certain conditions such as seizure disorders or eclampsia in pregnancy
When you should seek urgent medical care
If you have these symptoms please call or seek medical are as soon as possible.
- You become weak and confused
- You have fruity (sweet) breath
- Severe stomach pain and are vomiting (or have nausea)
- Being drowsy than usual
Chyle or chylomicrons
- Chyle is a fluid consisting of a mixture of lymphatic fluid (lymph) and chylomicrons. This fluid may have a characteristic milky appearance.
- On the other hand, “chylomicrons are small fat globules composed of protein and lipid (fat) which are combined in the lining of the intestine.” [emedicinehealth.com]
Chylomicrons are also present in the blood. Some of the functions of chylomicrons include serving as carriers or for translocation of fat to the liver and to adipose (fat) tissue.
Chyle is, therefore, a kind of special fat type. These may be derived from certain foods, especially in the intestines.
- Chyle cannot be absorbed directly into blood vessels due to its high density
- Therefore, in times of need (when the body organs senses), it travels through the lymphatic system
Chyle fistula
Another cause of oily urine is a chyle fistula. A chyle fistula occurs when “defect(s) of a lymphatic vessel(s) result in leakage of lymphatic fluid, typically accumulating in the thoracic (pleural) or abdominal (peritoneal) cavities …” {en.wikipedia.org]
Treatment for chyle fistula
In many cases, impairs of the lymphatic vessels may not be achieved. However, factors that are relied upon for treatment to be practical include:
- A decrease in the production of lymphatic fluid. This will aid or allow for healing of lymphatic defect(s)
- Second has to do with a permanent lymphatic fluid moving away from lymphatic defect(s)
How will be achieved or be made possible? In the case of decreased production of lymphatic fluid, one may be required to do the following:
- Certain diet restriction
- Replacement of oral intake
- Medications including inhibitors
Symptoms of ketones in urine
- Urine appears to be exceptionally oily
- A frothy or milky appearance
- Shiny, milky appearance in urine
When ketones are produced in large amounts, the urine also becomes sticky.
Dehydration
Dehydration occurs when your body doesn’t have as much water as it needs. In fact, this cause is as good as a symptom.
When the body has not enough liquid, it absorbs water from the content of the bladder, leaving highly concentrated (dark yellow urine). One may feel itchy or discomforts when releasing this urine.
Infants and young kids lose more water than adults do (but this may also depend upon other factors such as health condition (chronic illnesses) and the environment.
In the elderly, blunted response to thirst and/or inadequate ability to access free water in the face of excess free water losses (especially hyperglycemia-related) seem to be the main causes of dehydration
In addition, dehydration includes thirst and reasons that can make you not be able to reach for water that clean and safe for drinking.
Dehydration may occur in the following ways:
- Exercising regularly
- Exposure to hot environments
- A decreased thirst response
- Respiratory losses
- Urinary losses in hyperglycemia (osmotic diuresis)
Loss of body fluid is also possible through transient hypernatremia. This an occur when you do severe exercises
How to deal with dehydration
Minor dehydration rarely requires any kind of medication unless you are sick or suffer from an illness that is causing dehydration.
For minor dehydration, you only need to take sufficient clean and safe water and that is often considered the most effective.
Drinking water is one of the ways of making up for most of the water lost or (stopping more fluid loss.)
Notably, plain water restores only the volume of the blood plasma. As dehydration resolves, your urine color, concentration, and appearance will return to normal. Keep in mind that many solid foods can contribute to fluid loss as a result of things like vomiting and diarrhea.
When the above cannot work, “… correction of a dehydrated state is accomplished by the replenishment of necessary water and electrolytes (through oral rehydration therapy or fluid replacement by intravenous therapy).” [en.wikipedia.org]
Too much or excessive vitamins
Can you produce oily urine if you take too much of the vitamins? What happens if you take too many vitamins? Is too much of body vitamins dangerous?
Oily urine may also be a result of vitamins in body more than what the body requires. While we may see ourselves taking what is only enough, too much of those essential vitamins is very possible. For instance, too much of vitamin D, which can result in oily urine.
Presence of vitamins in urine can make it acquire an oily hue, tint or color shade.
Sometimes this is very clear and is an indication you are taking too many vitamins.
Additionally, you may produce oily urine if taking artificial supplements (either as a treatment remedy or deficiency).
How excessive vitamins can also be dangerous
Adequate vitamin and mineral intake from a balanced diet is essential for maintaining health and preventing diseases caused by such deficiencies. These include disease such as pellagra or night blindness in children who lack vitamin A.
Intake of vitamins at a higher level can be toxic.
- If too much vitamin A is taken during pregnancy, the fetus can develop abnormalities
- Excessive zinc can suppress your immune system
- Large doses of Niacin can produce symptoms including nausea, blurred vision, liver toxicity, etc.
Additionally, it could also be dangerous when the vitamins are not being absorbed properly.
Oily urine facts
Read these informational and bits of facts to add on to the knowledge about oily urine. When you are in doubts about passing out oily urine, these may be of great help.
In terms of smell, the urine does not have to be very strong or rather very noticeable. Nevertheless, if it is very strongly considered seeing a doctor to have urine tests for a possible infection or condition like kidney stones.
Additionally, if you perceive a sweet-like smell from the urine while urinating or passing out urine, that could be an indicator of diabetes.
On the other hand, a change in the smell of urine could also be a result of different foods such as asparagus.
If you go to the urinary with a frequency you suspect is also another indicator and also high time for you to know about your health condition.
Healthy persons often visit the urinary to pass urine about 6 to 8 times in a day. However, his frequency may change sometimes depending on how much of fluid (including water) you consume each single day, before and after meals, daily routine or your hobby, work conditions or health state among other factors.
Besides your urine appearing oily, if you consume or don’t take enough fluid but you still feel the urge to urinate frequently, you could be having a problem that requires medical examination (including):
- Urinary tract infection (UTI)
- involuntary contractions of the muscles of the bladder
- stroke Parkinson’s all other possible neurological disorders
- Benign prostate enlargement
- Irritation and redness of the bladder which may be causing interstitial cystitis
References
- What causes Oily Urine? http://medicaltreasure.com/oily-urine/
- Oily urine: Causes and treatment: http://www.belmarrahealth.com/oily-urine-causes-treatment/
- Chyle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chyle. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
