Gilbert’s syndrome: when your bilirubin rises and causes jaundice

Gilbert’s syndrome is a liver disease caused by a genetic mutation that manifests with jaundice or yellow skin and eyes. This coloration of skin and eyes is due to a abnormal increase in bilirubin levelsa yellowish-orange pigment, in blood.

Although it may have other associated symptoms, in general you usually feel fine, but when you look in the mirror you see that both the skin and the white part of your eyes have a yellowish coloration. It’s not serious, but you should take care of your liver.

genetic causes

The abnormal gene that causes Gilbert’s syndrome is quite common, although it only develops the pathology between 2 and 10% of the population.

Many people carry the mutation, but for Gilbert’s syndrome to manifest a copy of this gene must have been inherited from both parents. Still, even having both copies doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get the syndrome.

The most common thing is to discover that you are a carrier of this genetic alteration after a jaundiced episode It manifests itself when having a cold, a low-calorie diet, lack of sleep, intense exercise, dehydration, stress, or during menstruation. It is also usually a casual finding when performing a blood test and checking high bilirubin levels (> 2-3 mg/dL), a waste substance that comes from the breakdown of old red blood cells.

Although it is not a serious disorder, people who suffer from this syndrome should know that can affect the metabolism of some hormones, medications and toxins. According to an article on Gilbert syndrome published in the journal European Journal of Pediatrics in 2012, this condition should be one of the main medical restrictions that should be taken into account when prescribing certain drugs to affected people.

Associated symptoms

Jaundice is the only recognized clinical sign of Gilbert’s syndrome. However, those who suffer from the disease have also reported other symptoms such as:

Tiredness and fatigue Weakness Nausea, stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea and bloating Low concentration Dark colored urine General feeling of malaise

It has not been proven that the direct cause of all these alterations is Gilbert’s syndrome, but according to another study published in October 2021 by Chinese researchers, the strong affinity that bilirubin has for erythrocyte phospholipids – which interferes with the membrane composition and dynamics—results in a increased fragility of red blood cellsan easy rupture and a shortening of the survival time of these cells, which can lead to anemia due to chronic hemolysis if the body does not compensate for this loss.

Excess bilirubin also can weaken intestinal motility and cause digestive dysfunction.

But bilirubin also has important antioxidant activities and antimutagenic, so the study adds that a mild Gilbert syndrome can prevent cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus and certain types of cancer.

Why does bilirubin increase?

He liver role in the filtering, cleaning of the blood and elimination of waste substances is essential. It also makes bile, a fluid that helps break down food in the intestine.

Responsible for carrying oxygen to all cells in the body, red blood cells have a half-life of 120 days. They contain a protein called hemoglobin that, when the erythrocyte dies, breaks down into globin and heme. This breakdown gives way to a fat-soluble form of bilirubin that will be transported to the liver, where the gluconyltransferase enzyme converts it to a water-soluble form so that it can be easily excreted in the bile and ultimately expelled in the feces.

People with Gilbert’s syndrome lack sufficient amounts of this enzyme, which means that bilirubin produced by the breakdown of hemoglobin cannot be converted in a water soluble (conjugated) form and accumulates in the bloodstream.

When unconjugated bilirubin levels rise, it can trigger a jaundiced episode.

How to lower bilirubin and help the liver

There is no way to prevent Gilbert’s syndrome, as the cause is genetic. But there are certain Habits and natural supplements that can help to keep bilirubin levels at bay.

Whenever possible, try to avoid:

Prolonged fasting or very low-calorie diets Highly fatty or processed foods as well as unhealthy fats (saturated, hydrogenated, trans…), fried foods and alcoholic beverages Drinking little water Stress Infections Vigorous exercise Not getting enough sleep

In addition to following the above advice, taking the following supplements can help the proper functioning of the liver, key in controlling bilirubin levels:

Artichoke. The active principles of the artichoke (cynarin, phenolic acids, flavonoids…) help the liver to break down the fats in food and facilitate digestion. If taken in extract form, 330 mg twice a day is sufficient. They must contain at least 16 mg of cynarin.Digestive enzymes. Foods rich in enzymes such as papaya, pineapple, mango… help lower bilirubin. Include them in your regular diet. They can also be taken in supplement form, with meals.N-Acetyl-Cysteine ​​(NAC). It is an amino acid with an important role in the detoxification process of the body. Thanks to its intervention in the production of glutathione, N-acetyl-cysteine ​​is used to alleviate various disorders of the liver. It is found in small amounts in sunflower seeds, legumes, oat bran, eggs, yogurt, cheese, and chicken. In supplement form it is recommended to take between 600 and 1,200 mg daily.multivitamin A range of essential vitamins and minerals is a good support so that the liver has all the nutrients it needs to carry out its many functions. They can be achieved with a healthy diet, but if the diet is not as complete as it should be, it is advisable to take a good quality multivitamin from natural sources.S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe). The body produces it to use it in the conversion of certain chemical substances to others that are easier to eliminate. Taking 1,600 mg daily improves symptoms related to poor liver function and has been seen to help reduce bilirubin levels in Gilbert’s syndrome.