Hormones and the Gallbladder

Although digestive symptoms may be brought on by any number of things, what is often overlooked is the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a small organ that sits under the liver on the right side of the rib cage and stores liquid bile which is used to digest fats. Even without eating a fatty diet, the gallbladder can begin to act up with symptoms ranging from pain or tenderness under the right rib cage, pain between the shoulder blades, indigestion especially after fatty foods, a feeling of fullness, gas, bloating, nausea, vomiting, burping and the list goes on. For symptoms of a full-on gallbladder attack, visit our symptoms page.

When the idea of gallbladder problems is first mentioned, one automatically jumps to the conclusion of gallstones. While gallstones are the most common cause of these digestive symptoms, they are not the only ones. Symptoms occur even without the presence of stones, usually brought on by a sluggish or low-functioning gallbladder. In fact, this low-functioning probably allows the gallstones to form in the first place.

Hormones are always involved in one way or another. A hormone is simply a protein that is used to deliver a message or a command from one part of the body to another, usually initiating or terminating a function. Considering how many functions are going on in the body at all times, it will not be so surprising to learn that there are more than 50 different hormones and several that are involved in the proper functioning of the gallbladder. And there are others yet that affect it less directly. This article will discuss only a few of them.

Motilin

Motilin is a hormone found in the cells of the intestines. It is released in response to fat intake or acidity in the small intestine. Motilin initiates the contraction of the gallbladder to induce the emptying of bile. In pregnancy, motilin is found to be profoundly reduced, especially in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. It is postulated that this may contribute to gastrointestinal hypo-motility (or a slow-moving GI tract), which symptoms include constipation, indigestion, and gallbladder disease, all of which are quite prevalent during pregnancy.

Melatonin

Melatonin is a hormone that is secreted in the dark and stops secreting in response to light. It regulates not only sleep but your whole biological clock. Traveling through several time zones can really throw this out of balance. But did you know that melatonin may also inhibit gallstone formation, reduce the cholesterol in the bile by inhibiting its absorption, and increase the conversion of cholesterol into bile salts? Studies show that melatonin therapy could possibly assist in the recovery of the neuromuscular function of the gallbladder wall during or following acute gallbladder inflammation, allowing it to contract more fully.

Cholecystokinin or CCK

CCK is a hormone that initiates gallbladder contraction and pancreatic enzyme secretion. If you have had a HIDA scan to test for a low-functioning gallbladder, they will have injected CCK to initiate gallbladder contraction and measure the amount of bile that is secreted. Normal is from 32-44%.

Thyroxin (also spelled thyroxine)

Thyroxin is a thyroid hormone that helps to regulate metabolism. Low thyroxin levels or low thyroid function are connected with low gallbladder functioning as well as low bile flow, both of which contribute to the formation of gallstones.

The sphincter of Oddi, which controls the release of bile into the small intestine, has receptor sites for thyroid hormones, and the sphincter relaxes in response to thyroxin. A relaxed sphincter of Oddi allows for free flow of bile which is less conducive to the formation of gallstones. Lack of thyroxin such as those found in hypothyroidism could result in a contracted sphincter. This phenomenon is thought to contribute to the formation of CBD or common bile duct stones that form from the bile left sitting in the duct.

Gallbladder Removal

There are several common side effects following gallbladder surgery which can be read about here. It is the hormone-related side effects that I’d like to touch on as they are not generally acknowledged.

It was complaints from women, mostly, following gallbladder surgery that prompted my research into the why. Comments that their body was thrown out of balance or that “things have just not been the same since” as well as “weight gain that I’ve never had an issue with before”.

Some of the reasons could be coincidental or hitting at the same time as surgery, such as age-related peri-menopausal symptoms, insulin resistance, or poor eating habits catching up with you. But what is more likely is that the stress from both the gallbladder disease and the surgery are triggering hormonal imbalances all over the place.

Hormones and Gallbladder Surgery

Everyone will react to an affront-like surgery differently, but in everyone, surgery will stimulate a major stress response that is accompanied by both hormonal and metabolic changes. It activates the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), the hypothalamic-pituitary axis (HPA), and the adrenal cortex. The hormones ACTH, catecholamine, cortisol, and glucagon all play major roles in regulating the stress response.

Specific markers increased in gallbladder surgery are somatropin (growth hormone), CRP (acute inflammatory markers), and cortisol (the adrenal hormone involved both in stress and in reducing inflammation).

Somatropin is a protein anabolic hormone which basically means when protein cells are destroyed due to surgery, growth hormone is released in an attempt to rebuild or create new protein cells. There have been studies done showing that people given somatropin intravenously following gallbladder surgery recuperate from the surgery faster. To date, this is not a practice that is used but it would be nice!

Inflammation can cause a cascade of hormonal havoc which people will react to and recover from differently. It can knock some people out for weeks to months, depending on their underlying health. Others are not affected. Also, know that something as stressful as surgery can bring on a latent condition such as Hashimoto’s and make it express.

Sex Hormones and the Gallbladder

It has long been known that both pregnancy, long-term oral contraceptive use, and hormone replacement therapy contribute to the formation of gallstones and the accompanying symptoms of pain, indigestion, burping, gas and bloating, and possibly nausea. But what are the underlying mechanisms involved?

Estrogen and progesterone (known as the female hormones) when present in excess cause three separate alterations in the biliary (bile) system:

a higher ratio of cholesterol to bile salts – also called supersaturation of bile
a higher propensity of the bile to aggregate or clump together – or stickiness of bile
a lower than normal functioning of gallbladder emptying – leaving bile sitting stagnant in the gallbladder sac

Counteracting the effects of the female hormones on the biliary tree

There are always choices that can help – pregnancy excluded.

Choosing contraceptive measures other than hormones
Chinese and Western herbs, including adaptogens, nutrients, and adrenal support to manage the symptoms of both menopause and peri-menopause
Support bile thinning, bile flow, and liver detoxification

These can make a huge difference when taken in tandem with an increased presence of hormones. All of these methods, excluding the Liver Detox can be used during pregnancy and nursing.

Natural ways to contribute to hormonal balance include:

Exercise
Sufficient sleep
Finding healthy ways to deal with stress and emotions
A form of spiritual practice (be that a connection with nature, meditation, yoga, or dance)
A healthy diet …

This does not exclude medical help, of course.

What kind of diet helps the gallbladder and bile as well as hormonal balance?

This is a two-part process – what to avoid and what to include. General principles are listed here, but
for a list of specific gallbladder-friendly foods, foods that trigger gallbladder symptoms, or to download our 30-day menu plans, check out the gallbladder diet page .

Avoid:

all common allergens such as gluten, dairy, eggs, and soy
all refined foods – sugar, flour
trans fats such as fried foods, hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils
red meats which are inflammatory

Include:

organic foods with a focus on fresh vegetables and fruits
small amounts of complex carbohydrates such as rice
moderate amounts of wild-caught (not farmed) fish
good oils such as olive oil, fish oils, coconut oil – all in small amounts

DO NOT OVEREAT – EVER!

It’s the worst thing for your digestion and for your health overall. And it can trigger gallbladder attacks if you have a gallbladder problem.

Regardless of which hormones are off-balance within you, as you work to harmonize those, begin now to address your specific gallbladder condition as well. First of all, take into consideration what may be the cause of your gallbladder symptoms. Address the ones that you are able to. And simultaneously, eat foods and take products that help to thin and gently move the bile. And apply castor oil packs over the abdomen which research shows have the ability to reduce inflammation in the area and which may also help you with much-needed relaxation and stress reduction.

Written as a guest blog for:

HormonesBalance