The nurse is conducting nutrition counseling for a patient with cholecystitis. Which of the following information is important to communicate?
A. The patient must maintain a low-calorie diet.
B. The patient must maintain a high protein/low carbohydrate diet.
C. The patient should limit sweets and sugary drinks.
D. The patient should limit fatty foods.
Correct Answer: D. The patient should limit fatty foods.
Cholecystitis, inflammation of the gallbladder, is most commonly caused by the presence of gallstones, which may block bile (necessary for fat absorption) from entering the intestines. Patients should decrease dietary fat by limiting foods like fatty meats, fried foods, and creamy desserts to avoid irritation of the gallbladder.
Option A: The patient may maintain a moderate to a high-calorie diet, as a very low-calorie diet may increase the risk for gallstones that predisposes to cholecystitis.
Option B: Both animal fat and animal protein may contribute to the formation of gallstones. Vitamin C, which is abundant in plants and absent from meat affects the rate-limiting step in the catabolism of cholesterol to bile acids and is inversely related to the risk of gallstones and cholecystitis. Individuals consuming the most refined carbohydrates have a 60% greater risk for developing gallstones, compared with those who consumed the least.
Option C: Replacing sugary drinks with drinks high in fiber would reduce the risk of gallbladder stones by 15%.