What Are the Causes of White & Brown Stool?

White bowel movements indicate a lack of bile in your system. Bile is a digestive fluid that turns stool brown. The lack of bile can be caused by a variety of conditions or medications, including gallstones, body abnormalities, and antibiotics.

Liver Infections

White stool could be an indicator of liver infections, like hepatitis. Hepatitis involves swelling, redness and fever within the liver.

Gallbladder Conditions

The gallbladder is where bile is stored in the body. Gallbladder conditions, such as gallstones, can reduce bile levels, causing white bowel movements.

Body Abnormalities

Abnormalities in the body's structure are another cause of white stool. Structure abnormalities, like problems in the small intestine, usually exist from the time of birth.

Medications

White stool can result from high dosages of anti-diarrhea medication or as a side effect of antibiotics.

Other Causes of White Stool

Additional causes of white stool include tumors, cysts, biliary cirrhosis, and the narrowing of bile ducts. If you are experiencing white bowel movements, visit your doctor so he can diagnosis the cause.

References

• Mayo Clinic