Keep Your Gallbladder Healthy with Turmeric

• Turmeric Compound Activity
• Cancer-Promoting Bile Acids
• Acute Cholecystitis

Studies in animals show that turmeric's curcumin compounds stimulate and increase bile flow in the gall bladder and bile ducts, which could help prevent gall bladder stones. For example, in one study two groups of mice were fed a diet high in cholesterol. Only 26% of the group supplemented with 0.5% curcumin for the length of the 10 week study developed gallstones, while 100% of the non-supplemented group developed them. ^{(vii.35, 51)}

Curcumin appeared to block the high cholesterol levels in bile otherwise caused by the diet. In addition, curcumin prolonged the amount of time it took for cholesterol to crystallize, a necessary first step to gallstone formation. ^{(vii.35, 51)}

Turmeric Helps with Conditions that Increase the Risk of Gallstones

Turmeric and curcumin also can help prevent or treat conditions that increase the risk of developing gallstones:

Table VII.21: Turmeric & Curcumin Reduce Risk Factors for Gallstones

Condition	Effects of Turmeric/Curcumin
Cystic Fibrosis	Lab and animal studies suggest that curcumin could correct defects linked to the most common gene mutation that causes cystic fibrosis. (vii.35)
Liver Diseases	Animal studies and human clinical trials demonstrate that turmeric and curcumin, by themselves or when combined with other herbs can effectively: (vii.100) Treat liver infections. Normalize cholesterol and bilirubin levels.
Metabolic Syndrome Conditions: Type-2 Diabetes, Obesity, and Unhealthy Cholesterol Levels	Both lab and animal studies indicate that turmeric helps fight metabolic syndrome conditions that promote gallstones by counteracting: (vii.18, 101) Free radical damage caused by diabetes. High blood sugar levels. Insulin resistance. Recently published results from a long-term clinical trial involving 32 patients with both diabetes and high cholesterol also demonstrate turmeric's effectiveness. In combination with garlic, turmeric significantly: (vii.18, 101) Reduced blood sugar levels. Promoted weight loss. Increased HDL cholesterol while tending to lower triglyceride cholesterol.

Other Turmeric Compounds That Can Help Prevent Gallstones

Studies suggest that in addition to curcumin, other compounds in turmeric than could also help prevent gallstones. These include:

Turmeric Compounds Protect Against Cancer-Promoting Bile Acids

Interestingly, turmeric compounds actually reduce high levels of certain bile acids that increase the risk of colon cancer. In animal studies where the rats consumed diets high in fat, caffeic acid and curcumin reduced deoxycholic bile acid levels. Caffeic acid lowered lithocholic bile acid in a similar study. ^{(vii.20, 140)}

Treating Acute Cholecystitis

Some integrative medicine experts and doctors recommend 300 mg/day of turmeric to help treat the symptoms of acute cholecystitis. Characterized by inflammation and obstruction of the outlet in the gallbladder where bile flows in and out of, acute cholecystitis is considered a complication of gallbladder disease. ^(vii.131)