The science:
A 2015 study published in the Journal of Gastroenterology found that gallbladder removal was associated with a significantly increased risk of NAFLD. Other research has confirmed this link, though scientists are still teasing out exactly why.
One theory: altered bile acid circulation affects insulin sensitivity and fat metabolism. Another: without the gallbladder’s regulatory role, the liver is under different kinds of stress.
What this means for you:
NAFLD is no small thing. It can progress to inflammation (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH), then to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and even liver cancer. It’s often silent for years. You might not know you have it until routine blood work shows elevated liver enzymes.
If you’ve had your gallbladder removed, regular monitoring of your liver health becomes more important—not less.
But Wait – Isn’t Gallbladder Surgery Safe?
Surgery itself is generally safe. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is routine. Most people go home the same day or the next morning. The risks during surgery—bleeding, infection, injury to the bile duct—are low but not zero.
The problem isn’t the surgery itself. It’s life after the surgery.