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What causes urine to look oily?

Ketosis occurs when your body begins to burn fat instead of glucose for energy. Ketones are a byproduct of this process and can be detected in your breath, blood, or urine when your body's in ketosis. Having a high number of ketones in your urine can make it look oily.

healthline.com - Oily Urine: Ketosis, Pregnancy, Vitamins, and Other Causes

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What is oily urine? Some health conditions can cause changes to your urine, including making it look oily. For example, you might notice what look like drops of oil floating on top of the toilet water after urinating. Several things can cause this, from certain vitamins to underlying conditions that need treatment. Keep reading to learn about the different causes and when you should follow up with your doctor. Chyluria Chyluria is a condition that happens when lymphatic fluid from the intestines leaks into your kidneys. In addition to an oily appearance, your urine might also have a milky white color. This is due to the presence of fat and protein in lymph fluid. Other symptoms of chyluria include: blood in your urine

painful urination

increased urination This condition is caused by an underlying condition, such as: parasitic infections

tumors

kidney injuries

genetic syndromes

birth defects If you have oily urine that also has a whitish color, it’s best to make an appointment with your doctor. They’ll likely do a urine test and take an X-ray, MRI scan, or CT scan of your kidneys to figure out what’s causing it and come up with a treatment plan. Ketosis When a person experiences ketosis, they’ll have ketones in their urine. Ketosis occurs when your body begins to burn fat instead of glucose for energy. Ketones are a byproduct of this process and can be detected in your breath, blood, or urine when your body’s in ketosis. Having a high number of ketones in your urine can make it look oily. You might also notice that your breath smells different. Some people report a fruity smell. Many things can cause ketosis, including: diets that include only an extremely low amount of carbs

diabetes

eating disorders

digestive disorders

ongoing diarrhea or vomiting

high-intensity exercise

pregnancy Your doctor can determine whether you’re in ketosis through a simple urine test. Keep in mind that ketosis isn’t necessarily a health problem. In fact, some people intentionally put their bodies into ketosis when following the popular ketogenic diet. However, it can lead to complications for some people, especially those with diabetes. If you have diabetes, ketosis may be a precursor to ketoacidosis, a serious condition that requires immediate treatment. Contact your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms in addition to oily urine: high blood sugar

shortness of breath

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extreme thirst

abdominal pain

confusion

nausea and vomiting Otherwise, you can usually treat ketosis by changing up your diet and exercise habits. Dehydration When your body is losing more fluid than you can take in, you become dehydrated. With less water moving through your body, your urine becomes more concentrated. This can make other substances in your urine, such as fats, more visible. In addition to oily urine, you might also have: dark, concentrated urine

lethargy

headache

dizzy spells

dry mouth

urinating less often

confusion Many things can cause dehydration, from not drinking enough water to underlying conditions that cause diarrhea or vomiting. Some conditions, such as strep throat, also make it hard to swallow fluids. If you’re symptoms don’t improve after drinking water, seek medical attention. You may need intravenous (IV) fluids to help your body rehydrate. Pregnancy There are a few scenarios during pregnancy that can cause changes to your urine. If you’re experiencing severe morning sickness with excessive vomiting, you may become dehydrated. The high concentration of your urine could cause a difference in its consistency or appearance. Ketones in urine during pregnancy can also be a sign of gestational diabetes. In addition, if morning sickness prevents you from eating enough, you may experience ketosis. While oily urine during pregnancy isn’t always cause for concern, it’s best to call your doctor to be sure. Water-soluble vitamins Water-soluble vitamins, such B-complex vitamins and vitamin C, are those that aren’t stored in body tissues (like fat-soluble vitamins). If you consume more water-soluble vitamins than your body needs in a day, the extras are expelled in your urine. These extra vitamins can affect both the color and overall appearance of your urine. If you take water-soluble vitamins, try not taking them for a few days to see if your urine’s appearance changes.