Moderate drinking reduces risk of gallstones

Drinking two units of alcohol per day reduces the risk of developing gallstones by a third, according to research presented at the Digestive Diseases Week annual meeting in Chicago yesterday.

It's already known that alcohol intake can protect against gallstone formation. However, scientists wanted to find out how the quantitative relationship between alcohol intake and the formation of gallstones.

Using questionnaires, researchers from the University of East Anglia tracked the dietary habits of 25,639 men and women over a 10-year period, during which time 267 patients developed gallstones.

Study volunteers provided detailed information on the frequency and quantity of their alcohol intake. Researchers found that those who reported consuming two UK units of alcohol per day had a one-third reduction in their risk of developing gallstones.

Each unit of alcohol consumed per week reduced the chances of gallstones by three per cent. (One UK unit of alcohol contains eight grams of alcohol; one standard drink in the US is equal to 14 grams of alcohol).

Researchers emphasized that their findings show the benefits of moderate alcohol intake, and stressed that excessive alcohol intake may lead to serious health problems. Quantifying how much alcohol reduces the risk of gallstone development, allows doctors to offer specific guidance without introducing the risk of excessive alcohol consumption.

Dr Andrew Hart, senior lecturer in gastroenterology at UEA’s School of Medicine, Health Policy and Practice commented:

“These findings significantly increase our understanding of the development of gallstones. Once we examine all the factors related to their development in our study in the UK, including diet, exercise, body weight and alcohol intake, we can develop a precise understanding of what causes gallstones and how to prevent them.

This article was published on Mon 1 June 2009