DearCustomer

Bile, which makes stool its normal brownish color, is made in the liver, stored in the gallbladder, and excreted into the intestines via the bile ducts to help digest fats. Pale stools (e.g., tan, white, or gray) may occur with conditions that decrease bile output, such as a gallstone; inflammation, narrowing, or a cyst of the bile ducts; inflammation of the liver, gallbladder, or pancreas; liver cirrhosis (scarring damage); benign or malignant tumor; giardia parasite infection. Other causes of pale stool include the use of aluminum hydroxide antacids or the performance of a barium enema test. Due to undigested fat, pale stool may also float, be shiny or greasy, or be foul-smelling. The chances of a liver disorder are higher if the urine is dark brown or you notice jaundice yellowing of the skin or eyes. Please have your primary doctor evaluate you for the cause of these pale stools if they persist beyond today. Such evaluation may include blood work (e.g., tests of liver function and for the presence of infection), imaging studies (e.g., abdominal ultrasound or CT scan), or organ visualization (e.g., endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, or ERCP). Note that two criteria which predispose one to gallstones are (1) being female and (2) over age 40 years, so your doctor should definitely rule out gallstones if a workup is needed.