"Researchers Uncover Enzyme Behind the Yellow Color of Urine"

Scientists have discovered the enzyme bilirubin reductase, produced by gut microbes, which is responsible for converting bilirubin into urobilinogen and ultimately causing the yellow color in urine. This finding solves a mystery that has puzzled researchers for over a century and opens up new avenues for studying gut health and diseases like jaundice and inflammatory bowel disease. The enzyme is present in most healthy adults but absent in newborns and those with inflammatory bowel disease, highlighting its potential importance in human health.