title: [Effects of vitamin C administration on cholesterol gallstone formation].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Biliary cholesterol is transported by vesicles and micelles. Cholesterol microcrystals are derived from thermodynamically unstable vesicles. In experimental animals vitamin C deficiency leads to a super-saturation of biliary cholesterol and to the formation of gallstones.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To search for a possible relationship between serum levels of vitamin C and the formation of cholesterol gallstones in patients with cholelithiasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen patients with cholelithiasis and a programmed surgical intervention were treated with 2 g/day of vitamin C per os for two weeks before surgery. Forty nine patients subjected to a cholecystectomy not supplemented with vitamin C were studied as controls. Plasma concentrations of vitamin C and lipid profiles were measured. The cholesterol saturation index, crystallization time, cholesterol and phospholipid content in vesicles and micelles, separated by gel filtration chromatography, were studied in bile samples obtained from the gallbladder.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vitamin C supplementation did not change significantly plasma lipids and bile lipid concentrations. However, in supplemented patients, significant reductions in vesicular cholesterol content (6.5 ± 4.8% compared to 17.9 ± 14.0% in the control group; p < 0.05) and vesicular cholesterol/phospholipid ratio (0.71 ± 0.53 compared to 1.36 ± 1.15 in controls; p < 0.05), were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin C administration may modify bile cholesterol crystallization process, the first step in cholesterol gallstone formation.
authors.forename: Reginald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: del Pozo
authors.forename: Mirna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dumas
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tapia
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fuentes
authors.forename: Mafalda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maldonado
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jüngst
mesh_terms: D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000737:chemistry; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000209:etiology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D003460:Crystallization; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008823:Micelles; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D008055:Lipids; D008823:Micelles; D002784:Cholesterol; D001205:Ascorbic Acid