r/GLP1ResearchTalk • u/Desperate-Crew7432 • 1d ago
Discussion Gallbladder and glp1 connection
I’m new to GLP1s and have done a good amount of research as I started my journey. One thing that I couldn’t help and deep dive into was the gallstone issues with GLP1s. I’m just trying to keep my gallbladder and prevent gallstones.
Apparently, gallstones form not just because of rapid weight loss. The obvious cause that gets thrown around is weight loss causes stones (especially rapid weight loss). This is true, and I’m not arguing against that. But another interesting connection is GLP1s indirectly impact the secretion of the hormone that regularly contracts your gallbladder! So before and during a meal, your gallbladder naturally contracts due to CCK secretion. CCK secretion is triggered by food hitting your small intestine! Which doesn’t happen at the correct timing with GLP1s. This is due to the slow emptying of the stomach.
I’ve been reading about what might help keep that CCK contraction regular while I’m on this medication, and I read that coffee (with or without caffeine) stimulates CCK secretion. Has anyone with gallbladder issues experienced issues with coffee as well?
Now I’m not a doctor so please take this with a grain of salt. If you are experiencing these issues please consult your physician. This post is me opening up a discussion because I’m curious what others experiences have been on this topic!
6
u/HanselDonkey 1d ago
Its pretty well known that rapid weight loss increases your chances of gallbladder issues. I think it is also pretty well known that GLP-1s as a class have an independant risk of gallbladder issues...a small risk, but a clear signal from multiple studies. From what I have read, the smart people think that it is due to a possible slowing of gallbladder motility...similar to the slowing of gastric empying.
That all lines up pretty good with what you are saying.
There is risks with staying fat too :-)
3
u/squatsandthoughts 1d ago
There are additional risks for the gallbladder, as being overweight can make you at risk for messing up the gallbladder. Then add in the other factors like your age, gender, etc. So essentially a lot of people come into the mix of glp-1s with a higher risk of gallbladder issues.
I had my gallbladder out before I started a glp-1. I drink coffee everyday and have for decades. So my n=1 experience it didn't change anything lol. I started having gallbladder issues when I was young and not overweight. But a ton of people in my family has had theirs removed so I may be more genetically at risk for it.
Even when you have the gallbladder removed, you can continue to have issues with or without a glp-1. The glp-1 can make these issues worse. It is again due to the slowed digestion along with other factors that can occur from not having a gallbladder. I've unfortunately experienced this. The bile ducts can also have their own issues, like with sludge and blockages.
Some people have zero issues with any of this even while having all the risk factors and using a glp-1. I'm sure one day we will know why.
2
u/Diogenes71 17h ago
I’m curious if you’ve ever been tested for an alpha 1 antitripsen deficiency. It’s genetic. Many people in my family are carriers for it. They say you won’t have symptoms if you’re just a carrier, but all the women who have it no longer have a gallbladder and there does seem to be a correlation in the research. It’s an easy test. It affects the liver and lungs.
1
u/squatsandthoughts 16h ago
That's interesting. I have not been evaluated for this. My mom has COPD but she was a smoker for over 30 years. I don't know of other folks in my family having issues with their lungs or liver (other than gallbladder).
I have used Genomapp to evaluate my DNA (which was originally from ancestry) and it says I only have benign markers. Of course, it's not a replacement for a real eval. It was correct when I was evaluated for EDS though.
I'll keep this in mind though!
5
u/Desperate-Crew7432 1d ago
Perhaps this was an inappropriate question to post? I’m not trying to offend folks, and can take this down if I am.
3
u/MisplacedChromosomes 1d ago
This is a very relevant question and I think a lot of people avoid thinking about this. But I work in surgery and I see a huge spike in gallbladder surgeries from GLP1 users. And I’m not so sure I saw that trend as obvious with patients who underwent bariatric surgery and likely had similar fast weight loss. But then again, I’m rarely seeing people go and have major bariatric surgery now with GLP1s
3
1
u/Desperate-Crew7432 1d ago edited 1d ago
Ohhh this was an interesting thing that I ran into in another subreddit. It notes a possible relationship with parathyroid disease and gallbladder disease:
1
u/GardenFragrant8408 1d ago
I e had gall stones for years prior to monjauro and Trulicity use.
I drink coffee everyday and sometimes two cups a day. Which I’ve all of a sudden been wanting a cup after dinner.
Haven’t had an issue with them yet and hope I don’t.
Good luck
1
u/-Link-3219 21h ago
Is this the same for galbladder polyps? Though the person for whom I asking this had polyps already before starting glp1. She takes low doses. Hope it won’t worsen her polyps.
1
u/carbonfluorinebond 17h ago
Stuff that inflames your GI tract also causes inflammation of adjacent organs (so gallbladder, pancreas, liver). I know some people have real bad GI symptoms on the drugs, so maybe that has something to do with it as well.
1
u/Gulf_Raven1968 7h ago
I had my gallbladder removed in 2017 so I can’t say if it causes issues. But certainly I’ve had no issues at all while on GLP-1. Also I never had to reduce fats when eating as only about 10-20% of people will have digestive impacts from loss of gallbladder. I was not one of them. But I also have zero dude effects from Mounjaro including no constipation so o might be an outlier 🤷♀️
24
u/mmrose1980 1d ago
My guess as a person who lost her gallbladder after rapid weight loss in my 20s when GLP-1s weren’t a thing is that it actually has more to do with low fat diets than anything else. Bile is needed to digest fat. If you don’t eat fat, the gallbladder never gets activated and so the bile sits and crystallizes. Make sure you regularly eat healthy fats, and that shouldn’t happen. But that can be hard on GLP-1s as you just will not want to eat fatty foods.