Meanings
- uncountablemedicineThe passing of red or pink urine after eating beetroot, caused by the excretion of betalain (betacyanin) pigments such as betanin.
An unusual effect of beets is that they can cause “beeturia,” or a red coloration to the urine, after ingestion.
2016, Andy Brunning, Why Does Asparagus Make Your Pee Smell?: Fascinating Food Trivia Explained with Science2 more examples
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).
1964, Biochemical journal, volume 90, page 673The 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).
1967, J.B. Harborne, Comparative Biochemistry of the Flavonoids, page 294Synonyms: betaninuria
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe passing of red or pink urine after eating beetroot, caused by the excretion of betalain (betacyanin) pigments such as betanin.
Origin
Cite this entry
beeturia. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/beeturia
“beeturia.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/beeturia. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “beeturia,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/beeturia.
Source: beeturia on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.