ISSA Nutritionist Practice Exam

A darker urine pigmentation is typically indicative of:

1. Overhydration

2. Dehydration

3. Excess minerals

4. Vitamin deficiency

The correct answer is: Dehydration

Darker urine pigmentation is often an indicator of dehydration. When the body is dehydrated, it conserves water by concentrating the urine, which results in a deeper yellow or amber color. This concentration occurs because the kidneys retain as much water as possible to maintain fluid balance, leading to higher levels of waste products, such as urea and creatinine, in a smaller volume of urine. In contrast, overhydration typically leads to clearer or diluted urine as the body flushes out excess fluids. Excess minerals or vitamin deficiencies may affect overall health and bodily functions but are not directly linked to the dark pigmentation of urine. Therefore, the change in urine color serves as an important indicator for hydration levels, making dehydration the correct answer for this question.