What is Gilbert Syndrome? Know all about the Condition Affecting Joey Graziadei

The internet has recently been buzzing about Joey Graziadei's unique yellow eye colour. In response to the attention, he took to Instagram to explain a lesser-known health condition called Gilbert syndrome. This condition causes the whites of the eyes and sometimes the skin to appear yellow.

On his Instagram Joey mentions: “I wanted to jump on here really quick and talk about something that I'm seeing a lot of comments about, which is Joey's yellow eyes."

"So to give some context on that, I have to go all the way back to when I was in high school. I was sick for about a week and a half, and my mom thought it would be a good idea to go to the doctor," he added. 

Joey further explained that his tests revealed a high amount of bilirubin count that indicated issues with his liver. 

The star of The Bachelor series says that he is in perfect health as he mentions: "They found out that there was nothing necessarily wrong, like hepatitis but they diagnosed me with something called Gilbert syndrome."

"At the end of the day, I am told that I am healthy, it's something that does affect the whites of my eyes, giving them that jaundiced appearance. It's something I want to pay more attention to going into this year. I want to ensure my health is optimal. But I wanted to provide some background and reassure you that to my knowledge, I am healthy," Joey adds.

What is Gilbert Syndrome? 

According to Mayo Clinic, “Gilbert (zheel-BAYR) syndrome is a common, harmless liver condition in which the liver doesn't properly process bilirubin. Bilirubin is produced by the breakdown of red blood cells.”

“Gilbert syndrome is an inherited genetic condition. You might not know you have Gilbert syndrome until it's discovered by accident, such as when a blood test shows raised bilirubin levels,” it adds.

In its essence, Gilbert syndrome is an inherited (genetic) disorder that affects the liver's ability to process bilirubin, a yellow pigment produced during the breakdown of red blood cells. Normally, the liver removes bilirubin from the bloodstream, but in individuals with Gilbert syndrome, this process is less efficient. 

What is Bilirubin?

Bilirubin is a red-orange pigment formed during the natural breakdown of red blood cells in your body. It's a waste product, but it plays a crucial role in the process of removing these aged or damaged cells from your system.

The Cleveland Clinic mentions: “Bilirubin is found in bile, a digestive liquid produced by the liver that helps the body absorb fat. Your liver is part of the digestive system. It filters toxins from blood, digests fats and stores glucose (a blood sugar) as glycogen to use for energy.”

What are the Symptoms of Gilbert Syndrome?

Mayo Clinic mentions Gilbert Syndrome’s symptoms as: 

“The most frequent sign of Gilbert syndrome is an occasional yellowish tinge of the skin and the whites of the eyes as a result of slightly higher levels of bilirubin in the blood. In people with Gilbert syndrome, bilirubin levels may increase due to:

• Illness, such as a cold or the flu

• Fasting or eating a very low-calorie diet

• Dehydration

• Menstruation

• Strenuous exercise

• Stress”