Calcium palmitate and alpha-palmitic acid in gallstones.

Calcium palmitate occurred in 20% of the gallstones studied in this laboratory by x-ray diffraction and was the most important crystalline constituent after the different forms of cholesterol and calcium carbonate. Only one calculus contained alpha-palmitic acid. The gallstones came from America, England, Australia, Sweden, and South Africa, and, as far as is known, this represents the first time these compounds have been found in stones from countries other than Japan.