From the Guidelines
Gallbladder disease can significantly impact stool characteristics, leading to changes such as lighter-colored, clay-colored, or grayish stools, due to insufficient bile reaching the intestines, as supported by the most recent evidence from 1. When the gallbladder is diseased or dysfunctional, patients may notice these changes in stool color. Bile gives stool its characteristic brown color, and its absence results in these pale appearances. Additionally, stools may become more frequent, looser, or even diarrhea-like because bile acids that aren't properly reabsorbed in the intestines can stimulate the colon, increasing water secretion. Some patients might experience steatorrhea (fatty, foul-smelling, floating stools) when fat digestion is compromised due to inadequate bile. Conversely, constipation can occur in some cases of gallbladder disease. If you're experiencing persistent stool changes alongside symptoms like right upper abdominal pain, nausea, or intolerance to fatty foods, consult a healthcare provider promptly. These changes often resolve after appropriate treatment of the underlying gallbladder condition, which might include dietary modifications, medications like ursodeoxycholic acid for gallstones, or surgical interventions such as cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) in more severe cases, as recommended by 1 and 1. It's essential to note that a history of terminal ileal resection, cholecystectomy, or radiotherapy can increase the risk of bile acid diarrhea, as reported in 1. Therefore, a thorough medical evaluation, including SeHCAT testing, may be necessary to identify patients with bile acid diarrhea, especially in those with a history of cholecystectomy or terminal ileal resection, as suggested by 1. In patients with chronic diarrhea, including IBS-D and functional diarrhea, SeHCAT testing can help identify patients with bile acid diarrhea, allowing for targeted treatment and improved outcomes, as supported by the evidence from 1.
From the Research
Gallbladder Disease and Stool Changes
There is limited information available on the relationship between gallbladder disease and stool changes. However, some studies provide insight into the management and treatment of gallbladder disease, which may be relevant to understanding potential effects on stool.
- The use of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in the management of symptomatic gallstone disease has been studied, with some evidence suggesting its effectiveness in dissolving gallstones 2.
- A review of gallbladder disease diagnosis and treatment methods, including ultrasonography, cholescintigraphy, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, is available 3.
- A comprehensive review of gallbladder disorders, including cholelithiasis-related disease, acute acalculous cholecystitis, functional gallbladder disorder, and gallbladder cancer, has been published 4.
- The effects of UDCA on gallstone disease have been investigated, with evidence suggesting its potential as an anti-inflammatory drug 5.
- A study on the treatment of patients with postcholecystectomy pain and bile microlithiasis using UDCA found significant improvement in symptoms 6.
Relationship Between Gallbladder Disease and Stool Changes
While there is no direct evidence on the relationship between gallbladder disease and stool changes, the studies mentioned above provide some insight into the management and treatment of gallbladder disease. However, more research is needed to fully understand the potential effects of gallbladder disease on stool changes.