According to experts at MayoClinic.com, gallstones are deposits precipitated from bile that form in the gallbladder and can range in size from that of a grain of sand to a golf ball. The University of Maryland Medical Center warns that many people have gallstones and do not even know it, but for others, gallstones cause inflammation, pain, infection, or other serious complications. Gallstones have many causes, and one is strongly associated with a patient's diet.
Types
According to the National Library of Medicine, gallstones come in two main types, based on the composition of the stone: cholesterol stones and bilirubin stones. Medline Plus states that cholesterol stones are the most common, but they are not related to cholesterol levels in the blood. The cholesterol found in gallstones is a result of too much cholesterol excreted by the liver into the bile and is not directly related to blood cholesterol, according to the Mayo Clinic website. Bilirubin stones are a result of too much bilirubin in the bile. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that gallstone formation, known as cholelithiasis, is promoted by many factors, including excess cholesterol in the bile, incomplete gallbladder emptying, inefficient absorption of cholesterol in the bile and dietary fat and high levels of bilirubin. These may be affected by dietary and nutritional factors.
Effects
Gallstones may cause no symptoms. If the gallbladder is inflamed, however, symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, pain in the abdomen, back pain or right arm pain, according to Medline Plus and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. These symptoms are common after eating in a patient with gallstones.
Dietary Causes
The Mayo Clinic website lists several risk factors for gallstones, including obesity, diabetes, losing weight too quickly, being over the age of 60, a family history of gallstones, being female, being pregnant, and taking cholesterol lowering medications, which increase cholesterol in bile. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, ethnicity is also a factor: American Indians and Mexican Americans are at greater risk than other groups. From a nutritional standpoint, the Mayo Clinic website points out that diet can increase the risk for gallstones if a person eats a high-fat or a low-fiber diet.
Prevention/Solution
The University of Maryland Medical Center lists several foods that can help prevent the formation of gallstones. Some of the foods recommended include omega-3 fatty acids from fish or fish oil supplements, foods high in fiber, nuts such as almonds and walnuts, and fruits and vegetables. They recommend avoiding a high intake of sugar as well. They go on to say that drinking coffee daily may decrease the risk of gallstones and that alcohol in moderation may also have positive benefits.
Considerations
The National Library of Medicine advises that there is no known way to prevent gallstones, but they do acknowledge that eating a low-fat diet and losing weight may help control symptoms. More research is needed to determine which nutritional practices specifically affect the formation of gallstones. It is generally accepted that eating a balanced diet with a high intake of fruits and vegetables encourages optimal health.
