This gene usually controls an enzyme that helps break down bilirubin in your liver. Sodium in foods can cause your body to keep fluids around longer than typical. McRorie JW Jr., et al. Adult females should consume 1 1/2 to 2 cups of fruit per day and 2 to 3 cups per day of vegetables. The symptoms of high bilirubin levels will vary depending on the underlying cause. Too much of this pigment causes the skin, eyes, and gums to turn . Certain causes of jaundice have a better outlook with treatment than others. Modi AA, et al. American Liver Foundation. Alternatively, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be done. Both unconjugated (indirect) and conjugated (direct) bilirubin contribute to your total bilirubin, which refers to all the bilirubin in your bloodstream. This content does not have an English version. Therefore, increased direct bilirubin is usually a sign of liver diseases, such as viral or autoimmune hepatitis, or alcoholic liver disease [ 29, 30, 31 ]. When you have your test you need to make sure you don't have any caffeine and that you do not fast. They also found that coffee helped protect the liver independent of the study participants diet. Joe is a thriving entrepreneur, with a mission to empower people to take advantage of the precision health revolution and uncover insights from their DNA and biomarkers so that we can all feel great all of the time. However, if youre experiencing any abnormal symptoms or symptoms that could indicate you have high bilirubin levels then you should talk to your doctor. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. Keep in mind that much more research is needed before experts can draw any concrete links between bilirubin levels and someones risk of developing these conditions. Information is shared for educational purposes only. The implications of oxidative stress and antioxidant therapies in inflammatory bowel disease: Clinical aspects and animal models. Read on to learn how you can be strategic with the foods and drinks you choose to possibly lower your chance for future episodes of jaundice and keep your liver healthy. Heres how seniors can save! They include Gilbert syndrome and other, less common disorders such as Dubin-Johnson syndrome. The amount of alcohol and time required to cause damage varies, but typically, people must drink heavily for at least 8 to 10 years. By Mayo Clinic Staff Request an appointment Studies suggest that some of the faulty red blood cells that get transfused are destroyed within the first couple of hours, which increases hemoglobin breakdown and bilirubin levels [42]. If a baby has severe jaundice, there's a risk of bilirubin passing into the brain, a condition called acute bilirubin encephalopathy. Jaundice can cause your skin and the whites of your eyes to turn yellow due to the high levels of bilirubin in your blood. Bilirubin may be low due to an underlying health issue.