Gallstones and Low Carb Diet?

jtaylor1966 · 11-02-2009, 11:25 AM

Hi, my name is James. I have been on the low-card diet for about 5 weeks and doing wel. I am diabetic and the drop in blood sugar average was quick and has been staying down ever since (224 down to 112 average). I have lost 15 pounds and have changed my way of life. My wife on the other hand does not want to try the diet because she has the beginning of gallstones. Small ones already formed. Her doctor said for her not to eat cheese or red meats (before I started the low carb). Everything I have read has not linked gallstones to low carbi diets. Some articles talk about increasing the use of the gallbladder and this is good to reduce the production of gallstone, but since she already has some small ones formed I am not sure it is a good idea. I do Know if she keeps eating the way she is now it will not matter (she definitely addicted to carbs as I was before starting the program) and is obese like I am. She will eat cookies and brownies in the evening, snacks and etc. Does anyone have information on gallstones and low carb diets that I can get my hands on. It would be nice to prepare the foods the same way again instead of low fat one way and low carb the other. Please help

Leo41 · 11-02-2009, 12:14 PM

She can do low carb without cheese or red meat if she wants to. But from my experience, the true culprit is grains.

Let me exaplain that I don't have gallstones, but about ten years ago, I began having gall bladder attacks that my doctor was convinced were gallstones. But all the tests showed no stones or other abnormality. The GI doctor told me that he's seen cases like mine, and my gall bladder probably isn't functioning properly, but he didn't recommend surgery because, in his experience, patients with this problem didn't get relief after surgery. I later researched this, and what I found confirmed his opinion.

He told me that since 'low fat' eating kept me from having attacks, I should just continue that way. At the time, I was eating low carb (have been for years), but I typically ate a few bran crackers a day because they were only 2g carbs each. I continued eating low carb and relatively low fat without problems.

A few months later, I realized that I was getting indigestion from the bran crackers, and I confirmed that I had a sensitivity to grains, so I eliminated all wheat and other grain products. After I did that, I realized that I could increase my fat without getting any of those attacks I'd been experiencing. Later I had a holiday dinner and indulged in grains--and fat--and, sure enough, I had an attack. That was 7 years ago and I haven't had an attack since--and I don't ever eat grains.

If I were your wife, I'd eliminate all grains and begin low carb with lower fat eating--e.g., fish or chicken instead of red meat. Then she can try increasing fat slowly. I think she'll discover that she doesn't have a problem.

By the way, the correlation between gallstones and diet (any kind of reducing diet) is among people who lose a great deal of weight very quickly. There are studies that show that such a radical change can lead to gallstones.

jtaylor1966 · 11-02-2009, 03:05 PM

Leo,

Thank you for the reply. I wonder if your last statement includes a seesaw weight as well. Lose the weight but gain it back quickly causing gallbladder problems.

Steve Parker, M.D. · 11-03-2009, 03:24 AM

James, my understanding is that weight loss by most any method is associated with onset of symptoms from gallstones. Not in everybody, but in some. That's why weight-loss surgeons often remove the gallbladder during bariatric surgery.

On the other hand high-glycemic-index and high-glycemic-load diets themselves are linked to gallbladder disease. I write about this at one of my blogs, but a link might violate terms of service here, so I won't link or even mention the blog. I enjoy my priveleges here!

Here's a scientific reference:

Barclay, Alan W.; Petocz, Peter; McMillan-Price, Joanna; Flood, Victoria M.; Prvan, Tania; Mitchell, Paul; and Brand-Miller, Jennie C. Glycemic index, glycemic load, and chronic disease risk - a meta-analysis of observational studies [of mostly women]. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 87 (2008): 627-637.

You can go to the website of American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and read at least the article abstract.

When doctors encounter someone with gallbladder symptoms, common advice is to "avoid fatty foods." I'm not sure there's much science behind that recommendation.

Sorry I don't have any definitive answers.

-Steve

Leo41 · 11-03-2009, 04:01 AM

James-

No, it's not regaining weight that I've seen in studies; it's losing a lot of weight very quickly. That's the reason bariatric surgeons tend to remove the gall bladder during surgery (as Dr. Steve mentions)--the patient is expected to lose a lot of weight very, very quickly, and since they already have the abdominal cavity open, it's easy to remove the gall bladder.

Re-gaining weight is always a problem for the body, but I haven't seen that related to gall bladder. When I was having my issues, I asked the GI doctor specifically if my WOE or weight loss was causing the problem, but he said that because I lose so very slowly (metabolic problems), he hasn't seen any research that links to gall bladder issues. It's rapid weight loss that has shown up in studies.

jtaylor1966 · 11-09-2009, 06:18 PM

Thanks for the information Dr. Parker

11-02-2009, 11:25 AM	#1
jtaylor1966 Junior LCF Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 3 Gallery: jtaylor1966 Stats: 272/253/200 WOE: Diabetes Solution Start Date: September 21, 2009	Gallstones and Low Carb Diet? Hi, my name is James. I have been on the low-card diet for about 5 weeks and doing wel. I am diabetic and the drop in blood sugar average was quick and has been staying down ever since (224 down to 112 average). I have lost 15 pounds and have changed my way of life. My wife on the other hand does not want to try the diet because she has the beginning of gallstones. Small ones already formed. Her doctor said for her not to eat cheese or red meats (before I started the low carb). Everything I have read has not linked gallstones to low carbi diets. Some articles talk about increasing the use of the gallbladder and this is good to reduce the production of gallstone, but since she already has some small ones formed I am not sure it is a good idea. I do Know if she keeps eating the way she is now it will not matter (she definitely addicted to carbs as I was before starting the program) and is obese like I am. She will eat cookies and brownies in the evening, snacks and etc. Does anyone have information on gallstones and low carb diets that I can get my hands on. It would be nice to prepare the foods the same way again instead of low fat one way and low carb the other. Please help

11-03-2009, 03:24 AM	#4
Steve Parker, M.D. Senior LCF Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona USA Posts: 88 Gallery: Steve Parker, M.D. Stats: 170/155/155 WOE: Ketogenic Mediterranean Diet (not Spanish) Start Date: September 1, 2009	James, my understanding is that weight loss by most any method is associated with onset of symptoms from gallstones. Not in everybody, but in some. That's why weight-loss surgeons often remove the gallbladder during bariatric surgery. On the other hand high-glycemic-index and high-glycemic-load diets themselves are linked to gallbladder disease. I write about this at one of my blogs, but a link might violate terms of service here, so I won't link or even mention the blog. I enjoy my priveleges here! Here's a scientific reference: Barclay, Alan W.; Petocz, Peter; McMillan-Price, Joanna; Flood, Victoria M.; Prvan, Tania; Mitchell, Paul; and Brand-Miller, Jennie C. Glycemic index, glycemic load, and chronic disease risk - a meta-analysis of observational studies [of mostly women]. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 87 (2008): 627-637. You can go to the website of American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and read at least the article abstract. When doctors encounter someone with gallbladder symptoms, common advice is to "avoid fatty foods." I'm not sure there's much science behind that recommendation. Sorry I don't have any definitive answers. -Steve __________________ Steve Parker, M.D.

11-09-2009, 06:18 PM	#6
jtaylor1966 Junior LCF Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 3 Gallery: jtaylor1966 Stats: 272/253/200 WOE: Diabetes Solution Start Date: September 21, 2009	Thank you Thanks for the information Dr. Parker

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11-02-2009, 12:14 PM	#2
Leo41 MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,441 Gallery: Leo41	She can do low carb without cheese or red meat if she wants to. But from my experience, the true culprit is grains. Let me exaplain that I don't have gallstones, but about ten years ago, I began having gall bladder attacks that my doctor was convinced were gallstones. But all the tests showed no stones or other abnormality. The GI doctor told me that he's seen cases like mine, and my gall bladder probably isn't functioning properly, but he didn't recommend surgery because, in his experience, patients with this problem didn't get relief after surgery. I later researched this, and what I found confirmed his opinion. He told me that since 'low fat' eating kept me from having attacks, I should just continue that way. At the time, I was eating low carb (have been for years), but I typically ate a few bran crackers a day because they were only 2g carbs each. I continued eating low carb and relatively low fat without problems. A few months later, I realized that I was getting indigestion from the bran crackers, and I confirmed that I had a sensitivity to grains, so I eliminated all wheat and other grain products. After I did that, I realized that I could increase my fat without getting any of those attacks I'd been experiencing. Later I had a holiday dinner and indulged in grains--and fat--and, sure enough, I had an attack. That was 7 years ago and I haven't had an attack since--and I don't ever eat grains. If I were your wife, I'd eliminate all grains and begin low carb with lower fat eating--e.g., fish or chicken instead of red meat. Then she can try increasing fat slowly. I think she'll discover that she doesn't have a problem. By the way, the correlation between gallstones and diet (any kind of reducing diet) is among people who lose a great deal of weight very quickly. There are studies that show that such a radical change can lead to gallstones.

11-02-2009, 03:05 PM	#3
jtaylor1966 Junior LCF Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 3 Gallery: jtaylor1966 Stats: 272/253/200 WOE: Diabetes Solution Start Date: September 21, 2009	Leo, Thank you for the reply. I wonder if your last statement includes a seesaw weight as well. Lose the weight but gain it back quickly causing gallbladder problems.

11-03-2009, 04:01 AM	#5
Leo41 MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,441 Gallery: Leo41	James- No, it's not regaining weight that I've seen in studies; it's losing a lot of weight very quickly. That's the reason bariatric surgeons tend to remove the gall bladder during surgery (as Dr. Steve mentions)--the patient is expected to lose a lot of weight very, very quickly, and since they already have the abdominal cavity open, it's easy to remove the gall bladder. Re-gaining weight is always a problem for the body, but I haven't seen that related to gall bladder. When I was having my issues, I asked the GI doctor specifically if my WOE or weight loss was causing the problem, but he said that because I lose so very slowly (metabolic problems), he hasn't seen any research that links to gall bladder issues. It's rapid weight loss that has shown up in studies.