Certain factors have been known to contribute as causes of gallstones. These include:
- Bile containing high level of cholesterol- Normally, bile contains chemicals to dissolve the cholesterol excreted by liver. But sometimes, the liver excretes more cholesterol than body requirement and the undissolved cholesterol may form into crystals, eventually leading to gallstones.
- Bile containing high level of bilirubin- Bilirubin is a substance produced when there is breakdown of red blood cells. Certain medical conditions like liver cirrhosis, biliary tract infections and certain blood disorders increase bilirubin levels in the body. This excess bilirubin attributes as one of the causes of gallstones.
- Incomplete emptying of gallbladder - If the gallbladder fails to empty completely, bile may become overconcentrated (supersaturated) leading to the formation of gallstones.
