There is a highly significant association of
increased BMI with risk of symptomatic gallstone
disease.
After adjusting for BMI, there is a small but
statistically significant positive association
between vegetarian diet and symptomatic gallstone
disease.

Previous small studies have shown either no
difference or a lower risk of symptomatic gallstone
disease in vegetarians than in non-vegetarians.
A new study examined the incidence of symptomatic
gallstone disease in a cohort of British vegetarians
and non-vegetarians, and investigated the
associations between nutrient intake and risk of
symptomatic gallstone disease.
The data were analysed from 49.652 adults enroled in
the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer
and Nutrition (EPIC)-Oxford study, one-third of whom
were vegetarian.
The linked databases of hospital records were used
to identify incident cases.
Risk by diet group was estimated using Cox
proportional hazards models.
Further analysis quantified risk by intakes of
selected macronutrients.
There were 1182 cases of symptomatic gallstone
disease during 687.822 person-years of follow-up.
There was a large significant association between
increasing body mass index (BMI) and risk of
developing symptomatic gallstone disease.
After adjustment for BMI and other risk factors,
vegetarians had a moderately increased risk compared
with non-vegetarians.
Although starch consumption was positively
associated with gallstones risk, it did not explain
the increased risk in vegetarians.
For more information
Vegetarian diet as a risk factor for symptomatic
gallstone disease
EJCN - European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Link...
European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and
Nutrition (EPIC)-Oxford study
Link...
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