We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Low-carb diet: acetone-smelling urine, increased urination?

Boreo
Boreo Posts: 10 Member
edited February 16 in Food and Nutrition
I'm doing a reality check of low-carb symptoms. Please, only reply if you are on a low-carb diet.

1. Do you experience acetone-smelling urine? (I know about breath, but does your urine have this smell also?)
2. Do you think you urinate more (increased amount or frequency) on a low-carb diet than before? I know about increased urination in the first days due to glycogen breakdown, but theoretically, ketonuria, which occurs all the time on a low-carb could also cause excessive urination.

Replies

  • zivasak
    zivasak Posts: 88
    1- yes.Less after months
    2-yes but i drink far more water than before. Go to the bathroom every hour and make sure urine color is light, almost transparent.

    Edit: 1- less smelly after 3 months
  • LazerMole
    LazerMole Posts: 99 Member
    I'm with zivasak.

    The biggest things to remember with a low carb diet (especially a ketogenic low carb diet):
    When in doubt:
    1) More Water
    2) More Electrolytes (Potassium, Sodium, and particularly Magnesium)
    3) More Fat
  • Boreo
    Boreo Posts: 10 Member
    OK, what makes you drink more water — you are simply more thirsty? With other words — do you think you urinate more so you have to drink more?
  • zivasak
    zivasak Posts: 88
    if you are eating less than 50g of carbs you might be in ketosis and ketosis has a diuretic effect.
  • LazerMole
    LazerMole Posts: 99 Member
    You drink more water because you are no longer storing massive amounts of reserve water in your glycogen stores (which become depleted when you enter Ketosis).

    Acetone breath and increased urination would not be found in a low carb diet without being in ketosis. And if you're in ketosis, that mechanism increases your body's demand for water, as its retaining less of it.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    1- yes.Less after months
    2-yes but i drink far more water than before. Go to the bathroom every hour and make sure urine color is light, almost transparent.

    Edit: 1- less smelly after 3 months

    this.

    I drink more to cope the first few weeks with being hungry.
  • Boreo
    Boreo Posts: 10 Member
    if you are eating less than 50g of carbs you might be in ketosis and ketosis has a diuretic effect.

    Yes, exactly, this is what I know, but I was not sure if this is actually a *noticeable* effect. So, you actually drink more water because you feel that you have to...

    I appreciate all answers so far.
  • zivasak
    zivasak Posts: 88
    Yes, make sure you keep hydrated. I drink 2L a day.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories