Urobilin, also known as urochrome, is the tetrapyrrole chemical compound that is primarily responsible for the yellow color of urine. Urobilin is formed through the oxidation of its parent compound uroblinogen.

How is urochrome produced?

Metabolism. Urobilin is generated from the degradation of heme, which is first degraded through biliverdin to bilirubin. Bilirubin is then excreted as bile, which is further degraded by microbes present in the large intestine to urobilinogen.

Why is urochrome produced?

“Urine gets its yellow color from urochrome, a chemical produced when your body breaks down dead blood cells,” said Dr. Werner. “It's normal for the color to vary within a certain range depending on what's going on inside.”