Background. The
association between
gallstone disease (
gallstones or
cholecystectomy) and
plasma lipids was evaluated in 2,089 subject
who attended a private
health care 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 percent CI = 0.42-0.89) in the category of 181-239 mg/dL, and OR = 0.49 (95 percent 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 plasm
cholesterol in subjects with
gallstone disease