How does bilirubin in urine typically affect its appearance?

Bilirubin is a breakdown product of hemoglobin and its presence in urine can significantly affect the urine's appearance. Typically, bilirubin gives urine a yellow or brown tint due to its nature as a pigment. This coloring occurs when there is an excess of bilirubin in the blood, often associated with liver dysfunction or hemolytic anemia. Healthy urine generally has a light yellow color due to the presence of urochrome, while the addition of bilirubin leads to a more pronounced coloration.

The other responses do not accurately reflect the impact of bilirubin on urine. For instance, colorless urine would suggest a lack of pigments rather than the presence of bilirubin, which is not the case here. A frothy appearance in urine is typically associated with the presence of proteins rather than bilirubin specifically. Lastly, stating that bilirubin has no effect on the color of urine is incorrect since its presence is indeed correlated with noticeable changes in urine coloration.