Role of diet in cholesterol gallstone formation.
BACKGROUND
There is a high prevalence of gallstone disease in Western countries as a consequence of genetic, biochemical, and environmental factors. Animal and clinical studies have explored the importance of dietary elements. Overwhelming but conflicting information has been reported about the relationship between specific dietary components and gallstone disease. Although the detailed biochemical pathways have been described in experimental models, human studies are mainly epidemiological.


METHODS
We performed a Medline search with the terms "diet", "gallstones", "cholesterol", "risk factors", including results from 1965 to 2006 and the author's personal library to review the relationship between dietary factors and cholesterol gallstone disease.


RESULTS
We identified over 150 references and present their results with respect to the author's criteria.


CONCLUSIONS
The best delineated relationship between cholesterol gallstones and diet was found in the studies that analyzed total calorie intake, refined sugars and fiber. The possible mechanisms are discussed in base of experimental studies.
Méndez-Sánchez
Nahum
N
Department of Biomedical Research, Medica Sur Clinic and Foundation, Puente de Piedra 150, Col. Toriello Guerra, Mexico City, Mexico. nmendez@medicasur.org.mx
Zamora-Valdés
Daniel
D
Chávez-Tapia
Norberto C
NC
Uribe
Misael
M
D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D002149:Energy Intake; D042882:Gallstones / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors
D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D002784:Cholesterol