A dietary survey to determine the relationship between diet and cholelithiasis.

A dietary survey was conducted to compare the dietary intakes of people with and without cholelithiasis (gallstones). A 48-hr recall method was used to collect dietary data from 91 cholelithiasis subjects (15 males and 76 females) and 86 control subjects (13 males and 73 females). Although the female cholelithiasis subjects were more overweight than the control subjects, they consumed less energy per day. It was observed that the female cholelithiasis group consumed less protein, fat, carbohydrate, and crude fiber than the female control group. Nutrient intakes per 1000 cal were similar for the female cholelithiasis and control groups. The total weekly intake of crude fiber and the intake of crude fiber specifically from bread and bakery products was significantly less for the female cholelithiasis group than for the female control group. This may indicate that it is a component of whole wheat flour that is low in the diet of subjects with gallstones. The results of this study suggest a possible relationship between cholelithiasis and a low intake of energy, protein, fat or crude fiber, but more than one of these nutrients could be involved. It is evident that further work is needed to study the relationship between diet and gallstone formation.