Comparing gallstone attack rates in omnivores versus vegetarians.
Cholesterol Gallstones
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Below is an approximation of this video’s audio content. To see any graphs, charts, graphics, images, and quotes to which Dr. Greger may be referring, watch the above video.
The #1 digestive reason people are hospitalized, though, is because of a gallbladder attack. Every year, more than a million Americans are diagnosed with gallstones, and about 700,000 have to get their gallbladders surgically removed.
What are gallstones made of? In 80-90% of cases, the gallstones are made out of cholesterol. Here’s a picture of someone’s gallbladder packed with gallstones. All that yellow you see making up the stones is pure crystallized cholesterol that built up in this person’s body.
If the only source of dietary cholesterol is animal foods, one might expect meat-eaters to be at higher risk. Turns out you have to go all the way to Kathmandu to find some good science. Non-vegetarians were found to be at higher risk for gallstones than vegetarians, but not just a little more risk. Nine times the risk. 9 to 1 odds of getting gallstones; nonvegetarians versus vegetarians.
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- Portincasa P, Moschetta A, Palasciano G. Cholesterol gallstone disease. Lancet. 2006 Jul 15;368(9531):230-9.
- Pradhan SB, Joshi MR, Vaidya A. Prevalence of different types of gallstone in the patients with cholelithiasis at Kathmandu Medical College, Nepal. Kathmandu Univ Med J (KUMJ). 2009 Jul-Sep;7(27):268-71.
Below is an approximation of this video’s audio content. To see any graphs, charts, graphics, images, and quotes to which Dr. Greger may be referring, watch the above video.
The #1 digestive reason people are hospitalized, though, is because of a gallbladder attack. Every year, more than a million Americans are diagnosed with gallstones, and about 700,000 have to get their gallbladders surgically removed.
What are gallstones made of? In 80-90% of cases, the gallstones are made out of cholesterol. Here’s a picture of someone’s gallbladder packed with gallstones. All that yellow you see making up the stones is pure crystallized cholesterol that built up in this person’s body.
If the only source of dietary cholesterol is animal foods, one might expect meat-eaters to be at higher risk. Turns out you have to go all the way to Kathmandu to find some good science. Non-vegetarians were found to be at higher risk for gallstones than vegetarians, but not just a little more risk. Nine times the risk. 9 to 1 odds of getting gallstones; nonvegetarians versus vegetarians.
Please consider volunteering to help out on the site.
- Portincasa P, Moschetta A, Palasciano G. Cholesterol gallstone disease. Lancet. 2006 Jul 15;368(9531):230-9.
- Pradhan SB, Joshi MR, Vaidya A. Prevalence of different types of gallstone in the patients with cholelithiasis at Kathmandu Medical College, Nepal. Kathmandu Univ Med J (KUMJ). 2009 Jul-Sep;7(27):268-71.
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Cholesterol Gallstones
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Also check out Who Shouldn’t Consume Curcumin or Turmeric?
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