Hello, My brother was just diagnosed with gall stones. He (and me) recently started a low-carb diet, and I am wondering if this could be the culprit. After reading all I can find online, I am thinking that 1 1/2 months (the length of time he has been on the diet) is way to short of a time for the stones to have formed. I am guessing that the stones already existed, and the condition was exacerbated by eating more fat. You have to assume, I guess, that being on a low carb diet would cause you to consume more fat -if only because you can- which would cause the gall bladder to pump more fluid to digest the fat, and dislodge the stones. Does this sound like it might be true? Also, the doctors recommended that he eat very low fat, at least until the gall bladder is removed (to stop the pain from the GB trying to pump more fluid). I have read that eating to little fat can cause more stones because the fluid in the GB just sits around with nothing to do and can turn to sludge and harden in to stones. Is this a possibility in the long term? Anyway, any info or opinions on the subject would be very helpful. Thanks, Mike.

Hello, My brother was just diagnosed with gall stones. He (and me) recently started a low-carb diet, and I am wondering if this could be the culprit. After reading all I can find online, I am thinking that 1 1/2 months (the length of time he has been on the diet) is way to short of a time for the stones to have formed. I am guessing that the stones already existed, and the condition was exacerbated by eating more fat. You have to assume, I guess, that being on a low carb diet would cause you to consume more fat -if only because you can- which would cause the gall bladder to pump more fluid to digest the fat, and dislodge the stones. Does this sound like it might be true? Also, the doctors recommended that he eat very low fat, at least until the gall bladder is removed (to stop the pain from the GB trying to pump more fluid). I have read that eating to little fat can cause more stones because the fluid in the GB just sits around with nothing to do and can turn to sludge and harden in to stones. Is this a possibility in the long term? they usually start long before they're symptomatic http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/features/gallstones.shtml http://www.gastro.org/public/brochures/gallstones.html My opinion is he should get the surgery ASAP in case there's more problems than he realizes. J - not a doctor

Is this a possibility in the long term? There shouldn't be a long term.