Plasma total homocysteine and gallstone in middle-aged Japanese men.
BACKGROUND
We wished to determine whether selected coronary risk factors correlated with the presence of gallstone (GS) in middle-aged Japanese men.


METHODS
We carried out a cross-sectional study of 974 male Self-Defense officials. The odds ratio of a 1-SD increment in levels of coronary risk factors for the presence of GS was calculated in a logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
Nine subjects had undergone cholecystectomy. Gallstone was detected in 39 subjects and not in 926 subjects. The presence of GS was associated with total homocysteine (tHcy), but not with total cholesterol, triglyceride, gamma-glutamyl transferase, glucose, or folate. The odds ratio of a 2.8-micromol/l increase (1 SD) in tHcy levels for the presence of GS was 1.34 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-1.69; P = 0.017), and the ratio was 1.33 (95% CI, 1.04-1.70; P = 0.025) after being adjusted for lifestyle factors, including cigarette smoking, vegetable intake, physical activity, and abstention from alcohol.


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma tHcy, but not the other coronary risk factors, correlated with the presence of GS in middle-aged Japanese men. This association may partly explain the reported high prevalence rate of coronary heart disease in subjects with GS.
Sakuta
Hidenari
H
Department of Internal Medicine, Self-Defense Forces Central Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Suzuki
Takashi
T
D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D004032:Diet; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D042882:Gallstones / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids; D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase