Gallstones are hard deposits that form inside the gallbladder, a small organ located beneath the liver. Many people wonder if increasing fluid intake, such as drinking more water, can help eliminate these deposits. While the idea that hydration could resolve these stones is appealing, drinking water does not possess the ability to dissolve or remove existing gallstones.
What Gallstones Are Made Of
The gallbladder’s function is to store and concentrate bile, a digestive fluid produced by the liver that helps break down fats. Gallstones form when there is an imbalance in the chemical components of this bile, causing certain substances to crystallize and harden. These solid masses vary significantly in size, ranging from a grain of sand to a golf ball.
Approximately 80% of gallstones are cholesterol stones, primarily composed of hardened cholesterol. The remaining types are pigment stones, which consist mainly of bilirubin, a yellowish waste product from broken-down red blood cells. Stones form when bile becomes supersaturated with cholesterol or bilirubin, causing these materials to precipitate and accumulate into solid structures.
Why Drinking Water Cannot Dissolve Gallstones
The reason water cannot dissolve a gallstone lies in the fundamental chemical nature of its primary components. Cholesterol, a fatty substance, and unconjugated bilirubin are both largely insoluble in water. They are non-polar molecules, meaning they do not readily mix with the polar molecules of water, much like oil and water separate.
Once these substances have crystallized into a dense, solid structure within the gallbladder, they cannot be broken down by introducing more water into the digestive system. Water is quickly absorbed in the stomach and intestines and does not travel to the gallbladder to chemically interact with or permeate the stones. The compacted nature of the deposits makes them resistant to dissolution by a neutral solvent like water.
This contrasts sharply with kidney stones, which are often made of mineral salts like calcium oxalate. Increased water intake can be beneficial for kidney stones because it increases urine flow, helping to flush out small mineral fragments or prevent new ones from forming. However, since gallstones are trapped within the gallbladder and made of non-water-soluble compounds, this flushing mechanism is not applicable.
Standard Medical Treatments for Gallstones
For individuals with asymptomatic gallstones, a healthcare provider generally recommends watchful waiting. Since most asymptomatic gallstones never cause problems, intervention is usually unnecessary. However, once stones begin causing recurrent pain or complications, treatment is typically required.
The definitive and most common treatment for symptomatic gallstones is a surgical procedure called a cholecystectomy, which involves the complete removal of the gallbladder. This is usually performed laparoscopically, which is a minimally invasive technique that allows for a shorter recovery time. Since the gallbladder is not an absolutely necessary organ for survival, bile simply flows directly from the liver into the small intestine after its removal.
In select cases where a patient cannot undergo surgery, or if the stones are small and composed purely of cholesterol, non-surgical options may be considered. Oral dissolution therapy uses bile acid medications, such as ursodiol, to reduce the cholesterol content of bile and slowly dissolve the stones. This process is extremely slow, often taking months or years, and stones frequently recur after the medication is stopped. Consulting a qualified healthcare professional is necessary for an accurate diagnosis and to determine the most appropriate course of action.