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Liver Diseases / Gilbert’s Syndrome

Gilbert’s Syndrome

A mild genetic disorder that affects the liver’s ability to process bilirubin, a waste product that forms during the breakdown of red blood cells.

your quick guide to this page

what is gilbert’s syndrome?
Learn what defines Gilbert’s syndrome and what its general consequences are.
fast facts
Get a quick overview of Gilbert’s syndrome through statistics and bite-sized facts.
symptoms
Learn about the symptoms of Gilbert’s syndrome, how to recognize them, and what to do if you experience them.
lifestyle impacts
Find out how Gilbert’s syndrome impacts your lifestyle.
what can I do?
Discover management and treatment strategies for Gilbert’s syndrome.
additional resources
Find useful links, education, articles, recipes and more that can help with Gilbert’s syndrome.

what is gilbert’s syndrome?

Gilbert’s syndrome is a common and mild liver disorder that is caused when an individual inherits a mutated gene that affects their liver’s ability to process bilirubin, a waste product that forms during the breakdown of red blood cells. If you have Gilbert’s syndrome, your bilirubin will typically be elevated and will often fluctuate. High levels of bilirubin in the blood may produce jaundice (yellowing of eyes and skin) or tea-coloured urine.

what is bilirubin?

Bilirubin is a brown-yellow substance found in bile. Small amounts of bilirubin are normally present in the blood. Bilirubin is produced from the natural breakdown of hemoglobin (the red pigment of red blood cells) in bone marrow, the spleen, and other organs. It is carried to the liver in the blood, where it undergoes a series of chemical changes and expelled into the bile. After passing through the intestine, it’s then removed from the body through stool (feces). Bilirubin is what gives stool its normal colour.

fast facts

  • More common in males over females.
  • 3-7% of the general population is affected.
  • It usually first appears when people are in their teens or early adulthood (20s and 30s).
  • Gilbert’s syndrome may have some protective effect from cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes.

symptoms

Besides mild jaundice (yellowing of eyes and skin), there are usually no symptoms associated with Gilbert’s syndrome. Fatigue, weakness, and abdominal pain are sometimes reported, but it’s unclear whether these symptoms are directly related to higher levels of bilirubin.

lifestyle impacts

Certain conditions can further increase the level of bilirubin in the bodies of those living with Gilbert’s syndrome:

  • Being ill
  • Menstruating
  • Fasting and/or skipping meals
  • Exercising excessively

Certain medications can also cause side effects for those affected by Gilbert’s syndrome.

what can I do?

prevention

Gilbert’s disease is a mild disease caused by genetics, so it cannot be prevented.

diagnosis

Gilbert’s syndrome often remains undiagnosed, and it’s not uncommon for it to be diagnosed by chance, when blood is examined for another reason. Gilbert’s syndrome is diagnosed by ruling out other liver diseases by performing other liver tests and getting a normal result. A blood test is performed to identify elevated bilirubin levels. Since levels of bilirubin can fluctuate, your doctor may repeat the blood tests a few times before making a diagnosis.

treatment

Because this liver condition doesn’t cause serious problems, treatment isn’t necessary. People affected lead normal, healthy lives.

additional resources

Here are a few questions to ask your doctor or medical team:

  • Should my family members also get tested?
  • How can I manage this condition and my symptoms?