Abstract
To test the possible association between dietary factors and gallstones, we performed a case-control study on the dietary habits of 71 women with gallstones in a rural area of Sicily (mean age 63.2 years) and compared these with 142 women who did not have gallstones (mean age 63.6 years) selected at random from the same general population. The dietary questionnaire, based on data collected over 7 days, was carefully compiled by two dieticians specially trained for the study. The daily calorie intake was higher in the women with gallstones ( p= 0.006) and was equally distributed between fats, carbohydrates and proteins. The intakes of unsaturated fats ( p= 0.03), unrefined sugars ( p= 0.01) and fibre ( p= 0.04) were significantly higher in the subjects with gallstones. The cholesterol and calcium intakes were not significantly different, although the average consumption in both groups was lower than the recommended quantities. However, all the nutrients were equally distributed in percentage between the two groups. When three subgroups were formed according to age, we found that the calorie intake tended to be higher in the subjects with gallstones, with the three components always proportionately distributed, but the differences were not significant. We concluded that, apart from the higher calorie intake, other factors, such as age, weight, parity, lipaemic alterations and genetic factors, may help to cause the modifications in bile secretion leading to the formation of stones.