The Impact of the Gallbladder Removal On Hormone Health

The gallbladder actually plays a very important role in your body.  And while many people do seem to live a normal life without it, many others have health issues that are due to their gallbladder being removed.  But most people aren’t aware that their health issues are related to this.

The fats and oils you consume are part of the building blocks of many of the hormones in your body.  And so if you don’t have a gallbladder, then your ability to make and metabolize hormones will be impaired.  This of course is also the case if you still have your gallbladder, but it’s not functioning correctly, which is the case with many people.  If you have a malfunctioning gallbladder then you can expect to have problems with hormone metabolism.  Someone who has a malfunctioning gallbladder will have some of the same symptoms as you might expect from a person who has had their gallbladder removed: bloating, belching, indigestion, and pain between the shoulder blades.  

Top 5 Ways Your Gallbladder Affects Your Hormones

Ø      Gallbladder function affects hormones when you eat. When you eat food and fill your stomach, your body naturally produces a hormone called cholecystokinin. This hormone triggers the gallbladder to release bile into the small intestine to help you digest the food you ate.

Ø      Gallbladders contain hormone receptors. Inside the gallbladder are hormone receptors for the hormones estrogen and progesterone. These receptors make the tissue inside the gallbladder highly sensitive to increased presence of these two hormones.

Ø      Increased estrogen levels affect function. People who receive estrogen therapy are at a higher risk of contracting gallbladder disease and developing gallstones. The estrogen receptors located in the gallbladder are more sensitive to the increased levels, and the result of this sensitivity can be decreased gallbladder function, gallstones and gallbladder disease.

Ø      Pregnancy hormones are a factor. Women who are pregnant can experience increased levels of the hormone progesterone. Because the gallbladder contains progesterone receptors, the increased presence of this hormone can inhibit gallbladder function.

Ø      Women are more affected. Because women are more likely to have increased estrogen and progesterone levels, they are more likely to be at risk for gallbladder disease, gallstones and decreased gallbladder function as a result of the presence of hormones.

Estrogen Dominance And Gallbladder Issues

Estrogen dominance is a condition involving a hormone imbalance between estrogen and progesterone.  This condition causes bile to become thick and sluggish, which will cause problems with the processing of fats, and can impair hormone metabolism. 

At Living Proof Institute, a few simple tests can help us determine the best course of regaining balance and avoid unnecessary surgery to remove your gallbladder

What can you do if you have already had your gallbladder removed?  There are certain supplements people can take to help process the fats.  You need to eat a balanced diet consisting of protein, quality fats, and a minimal amount of carbohydrates.  But in order to break down the healthy fats you eat, you either need a properly functioning gallbladder, or if your gallbladder has been removed, then you will need to take certain supplements which help prevent the bile from becoming thick and sluggish.

Bile is a dark green/yellow-brown fluid and contains about 10% bile salts. The bile acids (salts) have a strong relationship to hormonal regulation as they share many of the same synthesis pathways as hormones. This is why people with hormonal problems, especially women with estrogen dominance, are more susceptible to gallbladder problems. The more hormonal stress on the body the lower the bile acid, which in turn disrupts normal hormonal metabolism.

Bile not only helps to break down fat, but it also helps in hormone regulation since bile salts share many of the same pathways as hormones. It is easy to see how bile salts and hormones are related if you understand that the fats and oils that you consume are part of the building blocks of hormones. If fats are not properly metabolized then hormone metabolism is also disrupted and hormones – specifically estrogen and progesterone – become imbalanced. 

The relationship between bile and hormones is a co-dependent one. When estrogen is high, progesterone is low.  Estrogen dominance has a huge impact on the health of the gallbladder.  If you are taking birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy or have an IUD (especially copper), the hormone-gallbladder connection may be very strong. If you are having gallbladder issues, it would be a great idea to seek the help of a Living Proof Institute we could help you obtain a hormone panel, see the actual levels, and recommend supplements that can help regulate hormones.

The gallbladder also plays a role in insulin regulation. The cells that produce insulin in the pancreas also occur in the gallbladder. Insulin is also metabolized by the liver and can therefore have an effect on the bile salts – so diets high in refined carbohydrates and those with insulin resistance will also be more likely to have troubles with their gallbladder.

Even though people can live without a gallbladder, this doesn’t mean this organ isn’t important to our health.  Without a properly functioning gallbladder, not only will this affect the ability to break down fats, but it will also affect the formation and metabolism of hormones.  

It is so important for us to realize how much control we have over our own health, if we have the knowledge about how to look after ourselves.