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I Have Been Having Dark Green Stools For The Past

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Posted on Fri, 3 May 2019
Twitter Fri, 3 May 2019 Answered on
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Question : I have been having dark green stools for the past week and can’t relate to anything I’m eating. The stool is soft and formed. I’ve also lost some weight without trying but bloodwork came back normal. What could be causing this?
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Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (45 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
If liver function test and stool test are normal no need to worry.

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for choosing HealthcareMagic for your query,
Have seen your query,
If a patient is asymptomatic then color of stool have no sinificance specially if it's temporary for short period of time.
See our liver produces a pigment called bile.
Bile is green in color and plays role in breaking fat we eat.This bile when broken down in intestines forms a brown colored waste pigment called Sterocobilinogen which makes stool brown.
Now this color of stool depends on breakdown of pigment so may vary from green to brown.The faster the food moves in intestines chances are that bile is not broken properly(some time issues like anxiety etc may increase rate of peristalysis of intestines).
What I would suggest you is to go for a liver function test and a stool routine and microscopy test.If both these tests are. normal no need to worry.
Unless a patient is symptomatic color of stool from green to dark brown/blackish is normal.
Hope I was helpful,
Follow ups are welcome,
Thanks you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
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Answered by
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Dr. Ramesh Kumar

Gastroenterologist

Practicing since :1986

Answered : 2901 Questions

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I Have Been Having Dark Green Stools For The Past

Brief Answer: If liver function test and stool test are normal no need to worry. Detailed Answer: Hello and thanks for choosing HealthcareMagic for your query, Have seen your query, If a patient is asymptomatic then color of stool have no sinificance specially if it's temporary for short period of time. See our liver produces a pigment called bile. Bile is green in color and plays role in breaking fat we eat.This bile when broken down in intestines forms a brown colored waste pigment called Sterocobilinogen which makes stool brown. Now this color of stool depends on breakdown of pigment so may vary from green to brown.The faster the food moves in intestines chances are that bile is not broken properly(some time issues like anxiety etc may increase rate of peristalysis of intestines). What I would suggest you is to go for a liver function test and a stool routine and microscopy test.If both these tests are. normal no need to worry. Unless a patient is symptomatic color of stool from green to dark brown/blackish is normal. Hope I was helpful, Follow ups are welcome, Thanks you.