Biology Forums - Study Force

Leon has gallstones. His doctor puts him on a diet low in fat. Why? 

"The gallbladder functions to concentrate and store bile produced by the liver. In this capacity, the gallbladder reabsorbs water from the bile. Since bile salts are produced from cholesterol, these salts will be precipitated as cholesterol-like gallstones if too much water is reabsorbed. Whenever bile is released by the gallbladder in response to the presence of fats in the duodenum, the smooth muscle in the wall of the gallbladder must contract. This generates pain and a burning sensation. To minimize or prevent this pain Leon's doctor prescribes a diet low or absent in fat: no fat in the diet, no contraction of the gallbladder, and no pain."

Content hidden