Brown, black and even green are normal colors for stool, but never pale white. White stool can be a sign of serious problems in the digestive tract. A variety of diseases and conditions can cause stool to turn pale or white. Consult a medical professional.
Liver Dysfunction
Disorders of the liver including cirrhosis, hepatitis and cancer can decrease bile production, resulting in white stools. The liver may not be able to actively produce bile, or the bile may not be able to leave the liver due to cysts or tumors. Jaundice, dark urine and itching skin are additional symptoms of liver disease.
Bile Duct Abnormalities
A variety of disorders involving the bile duct can cause stool to become white. Bile is a digestive fluid that's created by the liver and stored in the bile ducts. The fluid is secreted into the small intestines, giving stool its dark color. Children can be born with congenital defects of the bile ducts, limiting bile production. A narrowing or stricture of the duct may be present, limiting the fluid from reaching the small intestine. Biliary cirrhosis is an immune disorder in which the bile ducts slowly are destroyed and stop functioning. The cause of this disease is unknown, although one symptom is white stools.
Medications and Tests
Certain medications cause pale or white stools. A large dose of diarrhea medications containing bismuth subslicylate, such as Kaopectate or Pepto-Bismol, may cause stools to temporarily turn white. Stool may also turn white after swallowing barium sulfate before receiving a barium enema test.
