Question

Gloria is experiencing pain in the upper right portion of her abdomen, has greasy diarrhea, and bleeds excessively when she menstruates. what important substance does gloria lack that is causing these symptoms?

Answer 1

Bile

Based on the above symptoms, it can be inferred that Gloria lacks bile. Pain in the upper right portion of the abdomen usually corresponds to problems with the liver. The liver produces bile (also known as gall), which is a dark green to yellowish brown fluid that helps most vertebrates with digestion. It increases the absorption of fats and fat-soluble substances such as vitamins A,D,E, and K. It is also necessary for the excretion of bilirubin, which is a byproduct when red blood cells are recycled by the liver. 

Bile deficiency can cause the fats in the food to be undigested and these fats end up excreted as part of feces. It can also lead to vitamin deficiency and a gradual build-up of toxins in the liver.