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Biliary lipid, bile acid composition, and dietary correlations in Micmac Indian women

A population study

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Abstract

The precursor state for cholesterol gallstone formation is cholesterol-saturated bile. We studied a high-risk group for cholesterol gallstones to determine whether dietary variables affect bile cholesterol. Bile samples were analyzed from 46 Micmac Indian women without gallstones and 13 with gallstones for molar percentage cholesterol (MPC) and bile acid composition. The data were analyzed by multiple regression analysis with MPC as the dependent variable and the dietary variables, obtained from four consecutive-day food records, and biliary bile acid composition as the independent variables. In the 46 women without gallstones, obesity, calorie range/calorie intake, and iron and calcium intake were, in their order of importance, significant factors. In normal weight subjects (ponderal index>12.5) relative obesity was still a significant correlate. Obesity and iron intake were positive correlates while calorie range/calorie intake and calcium intake varied inversely. When the effect of obesity was controlled, these factors were still significant in this group, as they were in the gallstone group. In addition, the duration of overnight fast obtained by history, together with the proportions of deoxycholic and chenodeoxycholic acids in bile were correlates of the biliary molar percentage cholesterol.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine and Mathematics, Dalhousie University, B3H 4H7, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

    C. Noel Williams FRCP (C), FACP, Janice L. Johnston MSc, PDt, Sherry McCarthy BSc & C. A. Field PhD

  2. Victoria General Hospital, B3H 4H7, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

    C. Noel Williams FRCP (C), FACP & Janice L. Johnston MSc, PDt

Authors
  1. C. Noel Williams FRCP (C), FACP
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  2. Janice L. Johnston MSc, PDt
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  3. Sherry McCarthy BSc
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  4. C. A. Field PhD
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Additional information

This project was supported under National Health Research and Development Project Number 603-1008-30, Health and Welfare Canada.

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Williams, C.N., Johnston, J.L., McCarthy, S. et al. Biliary lipid, bile acid composition, and dietary correlations in Micmac Indian women. Digest Dis Sci 26, 42–49 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01307974

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01307974

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