The gallbladder, a small sac found under the liver, stores bile, a chemical that plays an important role in the digestion of fats. Gallstones occur when compounds in bile form hard particles which may then block the duct that leads from the gallbladder, causing severe pain and nausea. If you have gallstones, you may require minimally invasive surgery to remove the stones or shock wave therapy which fragments the stones and prevents them from blocking the gallbladder duct. Taking a vitamin C supplement may help prevent gallstones, although scientific evidence to prove this is limited as of 2011. Get medical advice before taking supplemental vitamin C.
Properties and Potential Benefits
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in protein metabolism and collagen production. It also helps to protect cells from free-radical damage and might also play a role in the treatment of a number of conditions, including cancer, the common cold, cardiovascular disease and age-related macular degeneration. It may also help reduce the risk of gallbladder disease and prevent the development of gallstones.
Effects
The results of an early study published in the August 1998 issue of the "American Journal of Public Health" show that vitamin C may reduce the risk of gallbladder disease. In addition, the findings of an observational population-based study of 2,129 subjects, published in the October 2009 issue of "BMC Gastroenterology," show that supplemental vitamin C may protect against gallstones. Specifically, the study found that the prevalence of gallstones in individuals not taking vitamin C was 8.2 percent, while the prevalence of gallstones in people taking a vitamin C supplement was 4.7 percent.
Sources and Administration
A wide variety of foods contain vitamin C in varying quantities, including red and green peppers, Brussels sprouts, strawberries, cabbage, spinach and oranges. It is also available as a dietary supplement. Guidance regarding a dose that might help to prevent gallstones is lacking as of 2011, but your doctor or pharmacist may be able to advise you.
Safety Considerations
Vitamin C is unlikely to cause serious adverse effects, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements, because it has low toxicity. However, vitamin C supplements might cause abdominal cramps and diarrhea. It may also increase the absorption of iron so don't take supplemental vitamin C if you have hereditary hemochromatosis. Keep in mind that vitamin C may interact with other medicines, including cancer drugs and cholesterol-lowering medicines known as statins.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Gallbladder disease; Steven D. Ehrlich, N.M.D.; February 2010
- Office of Dietary Supplements; Vitamin C; April 2010
- "American Journal of Public Health"; Serum Ascorbic Acid and Other Correlates of Gallbladder Disease Among US Adults; J.A. Simon, et al.; August 1998
- "BMC Gastroenterology"; Vitamin C Supplement Use May Protect Against Gallstones: An Observational Study on a Randomly Selected Population; T. Walcher, et al.; October 2009
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