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What Causes Vitamin Deficiency And Weight Gain After Gallbladder Removal?

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Posted on Thu, 30 Mar 2017
Question: I had my gallbladder removed thre years ago and I've been researching it. All these holistic/functional medicine doctors say that we'lol never be able to digest fats well again. That it can lead to vitamin deficiencies and weight gain. Is there any truth to this? I'm worried about my body. They also say you must take ox bile with every meal. Is this necessary?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (48 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Details below!

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for posting query on this forum,
Have gone through your details and i appreciate your concern.

As per your query let me first give you a small briefing that will help you to understand things better.

Bile is produced by liver.Bile acts to as a surfactant, helping to emulsify the lipids in food.In simple words they break fat and assist in digestion of fats in small intestine. In humans, bile is produced continuously by the liver.Function of gallbladder is to store extra bile that is produced by liver.The extra bile is released into duodenum as and when required by intestines for emulsifying fats.

Taking gallbladder out does not mean that you don't have bile in your body to emulsify fat. Only reservior storing extra bile is lost;Liver however is continuously producing bile. As gall bladder is removed in cholecystectomy patient is advised to take a diet low in fats;Which means a fat restricted diet. None of the documented standard text says that you have to follow zero fat diet or you cannot digest fat at all.

Bile is there so you can digest fats but as gall bladder is not there so body can not store bile thus excess of fat can not be digested but a normal fat containing diet(fat restricted) is easily tolerated and digested by most of the patients.


No, Ox bile or any other enzymatic supplement is not required. Every individual is different and response to cholecystectomy of different individual is also different. If your body is okay with normal fat diet, you need not to take any additional enzyme from outside. It is not at all necessary to take any external enzyme.

Bile has nothing to do with weight gain and vitamin deficiency. Hormones have nothing to do with bile or gallbladder also.

I hope i answered your query well,In case you need any other professional advice,I would be happy to help.

Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ramesh Kumar (1 hour later)
So the body will continue to function without it? It will not contribute to weight gain or hormone imbalance?

I also have a lot of bloating in my upper gi/abdomen area. Any advice for this?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (42 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Follow up answer.

Detailed Answer:
Hi again,

Yes, as i've already explained earlier, bile is produced by liver and not by gallbladder and your liver is intact and fully functional, so body can function without gall bladder pretty normally.

Bloating in upper abdomen is because of improper digestion of fats.

As already explained earlier, please follow a fat restricted diet. Avoid over oily and fatty foods. No junk foods pizza, Burger etc. Avoid egg yolk and red meat.

Fat should not constitute more then 10% of your diet.

However Esomeprazole (Nexium) 40mg twice daily can be taken for as and when required to provide symptomatic relief in Bloating.

Hormones, as I've mentioned to you earlier, have nothing to do with bile or gallbladder.

Our liver produces 27-34 ounces bile, out of which 1-3 oz is stored in the gallbladder, which would be released as required by body for fat digestion. When you consume foods containing dietary fats, your gallbladder is triggered to release this bile into the first part of the small intestine, the duodenum, where it acts as an emulsifier to break down those fats and aids in the absorption of the fat soluble vitamins, A,D,E, & K, and any essential fatty acids.

But the amount of bile released by liver directly in intestine is sufficient enough to digest a low fat diet and to a absorb sufficient amount of vitamins and fatty acids.

I'm not saying that removing gall bladder will not make any difference, rather what i want to tell you is, that you can lead a pretty normal life just by following a fat restricted diet.

Regards

Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Ramesh Kumar

Gastroenterologist

Practicing since :1986

Answered : 2906 Questions

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What Causes Vitamin Deficiency And Weight Gain After Gallbladder Removal?

Brief Answer: Details below! Detailed Answer: Hello, Thank you for posting query on this forum, Have gone through your details and i appreciate your concern. As per your query let me first give you a small briefing that will help you to understand things better. Bile is produced by liver.Bile acts to as a surfactant, helping to emulsify the lipids in food.In simple words they break fat and assist in digestion of fats in small intestine. In humans, bile is produced continuously by the liver.Function of gallbladder is to store extra bile that is produced by liver.The extra bile is released into duodenum as and when required by intestines for emulsifying fats. Taking gallbladder out does not mean that you don't have bile in your body to emulsify fat. Only reservior storing extra bile is lost;Liver however is continuously producing bile. As gall bladder is removed in cholecystectomy patient is advised to take a diet low in fats;Which means a fat restricted diet. None of the documented standard text says that you have to follow zero fat diet or you cannot digest fat at all. Bile is there so you can digest fats but as gall bladder is not there so body can not store bile thus excess of fat can not be digested but a normal fat containing diet(fat restricted) is easily tolerated and digested by most of the patients. No, Ox bile or any other enzymatic supplement is not required. Every individual is different and response to cholecystectomy of different individual is also different. If your body is okay with normal fat diet, you need not to take any additional enzyme from outside. It is not at all necessary to take any external enzyme. Bile has nothing to do with weight gain and vitamin deficiency. Hormones have nothing to do with bile or gallbladder also. I hope i answered your query well,In case you need any other professional advice,I would be happy to help. Regards.