Gallstones are hardened collections of bile materials that develop in the gallbladder and can be as small as a grain of sand or as big as a ping pong ball. They are usually made up of cholesterol or bilirubin that collect at the bottom of the gallbladder until they harden into “stones”. Bile fluid contains cholesterol, bilirubin, bile salts, and lecithin. The two main types of gallstones are cholesterol stones and pigment stones.
Ingredients or materials:
- Cholesterol
- Bilirubin
- Bile salts
- Lecithin
Gallstones can cause sudden pain if they block the bile ducts, which means you need medical attention right away. If left untreated, they can cause complications. Chenodeoxycholic acid (chenodiol) and ursodeoxycholic acid (ursodiol) are known to dissolve gallstones, but chenodiol causes diarrhea and abnormal. Surgery to remove the gallbladder is the most common treatment for gallstones.
Positive:
- Most gallstones don’t cause any problems
- Gallstones can be treated with surgery
Negative:
- Gallstones can cause sudden pain and complications if left untreated
- Chenodeoxycholic acid (chenodiol) can cause diarrhea and abnormal
Ingredients or materials:
- Cholesterol
- Bilirubin
- Bile salts
- Lecithin
