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Biliary Dyskinesia

Biliary dyskinesia is a condition in which the gallbladder does not empty bile well, even without gallstones, which can cause pain in the upper abdomen after meals. Sincalide, a gallbladder-stimulating agent used in scans, has the strongest evidence: 12 studies helped define normal emptying, with readings below roughly 35 to 40 percent pointing to poor function. Those findings describe how the problem is measured, not whether any supplement changes symptoms.

Sources: PMID 12869076

Supplements studied
0
Medicines and peptides
1
Graded outcomes
3
No supplement studies yetWe haven’t found supplement studies for Biliary Dyskinesia. The medicines and peptides studied for it are listed below.

Prescription medicines and peptides studied, for context

These are not supplements. Most need a prescription, and some are research compounds with no approved use.

1 medicine or peptide

Sincalide (Kinevac)

Sincalide (Kinevac): outcomes studied for Biliary Dyskinesia
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Gallbladder Ejection Fraction

Standard 60-min sincalide infusion establishes GBEF normal values. Lower limit of normal: 38% at 1% CI. GBEF <35-40% indicates gallbladder dysfunction. Coefficient of variation 19% for 60-min protocol.

Improves (the measure goes up)Large effect11 studies

Studies that measured gallbladder ejection fraction

and 8 more on the Sincalide (Kinevac) page

Gallbladder Contraction

Reduces gallbladder radiographic size by ≥40% in normal patients. Enables visualization of gallbladder function via cholescintigraphy. Gold standard for acalculous cholecystitis diagnosis.

Improves (the measure goes up)Large effect11 studies

Studies that measured gallbladder contraction

and 8 more on the Sincalide (Kinevac) page

Surgical Outcome Prediction

81.4% complete symptom resolution after cholecystectomy in low GBEF patients. Systematic review of 1,710 patients. GBEF alone may not reliably predict outcomes; other factors contribute.

Improves (the measure goes up)Moderate effect9 studies

Studies that measured surgical outcome prediction

and 6 more on the Sincalide (Kinevac) page

Key findings

  • Gallbladder Ejection FractionSincalide (Kinevac)Improves (the measure goes up)
  • Gallbladder ContractionSincalide (Kinevac)Improves (the measure goes up)
  • Surgical Outcome PredictionSincalide (Kinevac)Improves (the measure goes up)

Shop the evidence-backed picks

Support alongside medical care. These supplements are not a treatment for Biliary Dyskinesia. If you are being treated for it, talk to your clinician before adding one: supplements can interact with medicines.

Fullscript collectionGut and digestion: evidence-graded picksOpen on Fullscript

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Studies cited

11 studies from PubMed

  1. Defining Biliary Hyperkinesia and the Role of CholecystectomyDig Dis Sci, 2023 · PMID 37366537
  2. Cholescintigraphy may have a role in selecting patients with biliary dyskinesia for cholecystectomy: a systematic reviewSurg Endosc, 2020 · PMID 32479706
  3. Sincalide: A Review of Clinical Utility, Proper Infusion Methodology, and Alternative Cholecystogogues.Journal of nuclear medicine technology, 2019 · PMID 31019045
  4. Pain provocation and low gallbladder ejection fraction with CCK cholescintigraphy are not predictive of chronic acalculous gallbladder disease symptom relief after cholecystectomySurg Endosc, 2014 · PMID 24852884
  5. Optimum utilization of cholecystokinin cholescintigraphy (CCK-HIDA) in clinical practice: an evidence based reviewJ Gastrointest Surg, 2012 · PMID 22655428
  6. Biliary dyskinesiaCurr Treat Options Gastroenterol, 2008 · PMID 18992594
  7. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for biliary dyskinesia: correlation of preoperative cholecystokinin cholescintigraphy results with postoperative outcomeSurg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech, 2004 · PMID 15054652
  8. Systematic review and meta-analysis: does gall-bladder ejection fraction on cholecystokinin cholescintigraphy predict outcome after cholecystectomy in suspected functional biliary pain?Aliment Pharmacol Ther, 2003 · PMID 12869076
  9. Abnormal gallbladder nuclear ejection fraction predicts success of cholecystectomy in patients with biliary dyskinesiaAm J Surg, 1993 · PMID 8273847
  10. Kinevac (sincalide for injection)/Squibb DiagnosticsRadiology, 1991 · PMID 1932168
  11. Cholecystokinin enhanced hepatobiliary scanning with ejection fraction calculation as an indicator of disease of the gallbladderSurg Gynecol Obstet, 1991 · PMID 1985336