By David Liu, PHD

Friday Aug 24, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study by Taiwanese researchers suggests that using statins does not reduce the risk of gallstone disease. In fact, more cases of gallstone disease were found among those who used any statins.

The population-based case-control study enlisted 1014 cases of gallstone disease and 1014 controls with both groups aged 50 or older in Taiwan. The patients in the study group had a first-time diagnosis of gallstone disease or cholecystectomy between 2005 and 2009. The study was intended to reveal the association between statin use and risk of gallstone disease.

Hui-Fen Chiu of Kaohsiung Medical University College of Health Sciences and colleagues found those who ever used any prescription statin were 6 percent more likely to be diagnosed with gallstone disease.  The risk increase looked small, but significant. When other risk factors were considered, the adjusted risk was increased by 14 percent.

The researchers also found high dosages led to higher risk for gallstone disease.  Those who used prescribed statins with ccumulative defined daily doses (DDDs) below 41.53 were 5 percent more likely to be diagnosed with the disease, compared to those who did not use any.  When DDDs was between 41.54 and 334.81, the adjusted risk was increased by 12 percent, and when DDDs was over 334.81, the adjusted risk for the disease increased by 30 percent.

The researchers reported in Expert Opinion on Drug Safety that using statins does not reduce risk of gallstone disease.

This study is inconsistent with at least one previous study led by Michael Bodmer, MD, MSc of University of Basel in Basel, Switzerland and colleagues reported in the Journal of American Medical Association that "Long-term use of statins was associated with a decreased risk of gallstones followed by cholecystectomy."

It should be pointed out that the association may depend on the region where the study was conducted.  Who knows it maybe that using statins cuts the risk of gallstone in white people as studied by Bodmer et al., but does not help people in Taiwan.

Dietary cholesterol is known to have an positive impact on the risk of gallstone disease.  In the West, people have high intake of cholesterol, and statins can lower cholesterol very effectively. It seems logic that statins are able to lower the risk.  On the other hand, people in Taiwan may not have as high intake of cholesterol and taking statins may not have as much cholesterol to lower in the first place. That may be why taking statins does not cut gallstone risk.

Clara J. Moerman, PhD, MD of National Institute of Public Health and Environment Protection in Bilthoven, The Netherlands and colleagues published a study in Annals of Epidemiology showing that other dietary risk factors may have an effect on the risk of gallstone.

In the study, researchers followed 860 middle-aged men for 25 years to record cases of gallstone and associated the risk of gallstone with participants' dietary habits. During the follow-up, 54 cases were identified.

It was found that calcium intake was inversely associated with gallstone incidence, that is, those who had high intake of calcium were 70 percent less likely to suffer gallstone, compared to those who had a lower intake.

High intake of sugars both monosaccharides like fructose and disaccharides like table sugar and beet sugar, on the other hand, was found  associated with 130 percent increased risk of gallstone, compared to low intake.

The researchers explained "Calcium may alter the composition of bile by preventing the reabsorption of secondary bile acids in the colon, whereas sugars may influence bile composition through lipoprotein metabolism."

Calcium can be obtained from plant-based foods or calcium supplements.  Those who want to consider using statins to lower their risk of gallstone are advised to also consider potential side effects of this type of medications.