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As ever, New Scientist have something to say on the issue:
Colour of pee
* 21 July 2001
Andy Coghlan describes a chart which estimates a person's level of dehydration by evaluating urine colour (16 June, p 10). I have practised this procedure since about 1974, because I had a problem with water retention in tissues that related to migraine. My system compares seven grades of shading from "clear" to "dark".
I've found that colour and volume is a good guide to waterlogging or dehydration, but there are certain things to beware of. Colour can be misleading if you eat foods high in vitamin B. Wheatgerm or yeast extracts, for example, give a strong yellow tinge. Beetroot, which may be concealed in pickles, gives a deep orange to reddish tinge. Asparagus gives a green tinge and strong smell. Experience is the key.
Another factor to take into account is the body's ability to adjust to ambient conditions, retaining a higher water content in hot weather, and shedding some of this when temperatures fall. So caution is required in interpreting colour, volume and smell, and I think trends should be noted over 24-hour periods, rather than relying on spot observations.
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