Inverse association between plasma cholesterol and gallstone disease

Background The association between gallstone disease (gallstones or cholecystectomy) and plasma lipids was evaluated in 2,089 subjects who attended a private health rare facility in Mexico City from August 1991 to August 1992. Methods. All participants provided data on their sociodemographic status, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus diagnoses, alcohol consumption, and smoking habits; women also gave data regarding their obstetric-gynecologic histories. Ultrasounds of the liver and biliary tract were performed, Cholesterol levels, high-density lipoproteins cholesterol, and triglyceride plasma concentration were determined. Results, This study shows a strong inverse association between gallstone disease and plasma cholesterol concentration, with OR = 0.61 (95% CI = 0.42-0.89) in the category of 181-239 mg/dL, and OR = 0.49 (95% CI = 0.32-0.77) in the group of 240 mg/dL or more, when compared to 180 mg/dL or less, after adjusting for the following risk factors: gender, age, and body mass index. Conclusions. These results suggest an increment in the catabolic pool of cholesterol, reflected in lower levels of plasma cholesterol in subjects with gallstone disease. (C) 1999 IMSS. Published by Elsevier Science Inc.