Vitamin C supplement use may protect against gallstones: an observational study on a randomly selected population.
BACKGROUND
Animal experiments have shown a protective effect of vitamin C on the formation of gallstones. Few data in humans suggest an association between reduced vitamin C intake and increased prevalence of gallstone disease. The aim of this study was to assess the possible association of regular vitamin C supplementation with gallstone prevalence.


METHODS
An observational, population-based study of 2129 subjects aged 18-65 years randomly selected from the general population in southern Germany was conducted. Abdominal ultrasound examination, completion of a standardized questionnaire, compilation of anthropometric data and blood tests were used. Data were collected in November and December 2002. Data analysis was conducted between December 2005 and January 2006.


RESULTS
Prevalence of gallstones in the study population was 7.8% (167/2129). Subjects reporting vitamin C supplementation showed a prevalence of 4.7% (11/232), whereas in subjects not reporting regular vitamin C supplementation, the prevalence was 8.2% (156/1897). Female gender, hereditary predisposition, increasing age and body-mass index (BMI) were associated with increased prevalence of gallstones. Logistic regression with backward elimination adjusted for these factors showed reduced gallstone prevalence for vitamin C supplementation (odds ratio, OR 0.34; 95% confidence interval, CI 0.14 to 0.81; P = 0.01), increased physical activity (OR 0.62; 95% CI, 0.42 to 0.94; P = 0.02), and higher total cholesterol (OR 0.65; 95% CI, 0.52 to 0.79; P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Regular vitamin C supplementation and, to a lesser extent, increased physical activity and total cholesterol levels are associated with a reduced prevalence of gallstones. Regular vitamin C supplementation might exert a protective effect on the development of gallstones.
Walcher
Thomas
T
Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany. thomas.walcher@uniklinik-ulm.de
Haenle
Mark M
MM
Kron
Martina
M
Hay
Birgit
B
Mason
Richard A
RA
Walcher
Daniel
D
Steinbach
Gerald
G
Kern
Peter
P
Piechotowski
Isolde
I
Adler
Guido
G
Boehm
Bernhard O
BO
Koenig
Wolfgang
W
Kratzer
Wolfgang
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D001205:Ascorbic Acid