Cited by 118Gallbladder and Bile Duct DisordersBariatric Surgery and OutcomesKidney Stones and Urolithiasis Treatments

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 64 of the 64 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Ursodeoxycholic Acid and Diets Higher in Fat Prevent Gallbladder Stones During Weight Loss: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Open access
Stokes, Caroline S., Gluud, Lise Lotte, Casper, Markus, Lammert, Frank·2014·Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Abstract

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The prevalence of gallstones is increasing in association with the obesity epidemic, but rapid weight loss also increases the risk of stone formation. We conducted a systematic review of the efficacy of strategies to prevent gallbladder stones in adults as they lose weight. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials of nonsurgical strategies to prevent gallstones were identified by electronic and manual searches. Our final analysis included 13 trials, comprising 1836 participants undergoing weight loss through dieting (8 trials) or bariatric surgery (5 trials). The trials compared ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) or high-fat weight loss diets with control interventions. We performed random-effects meta-analyses and evaluated heterogeneity and bias with subgroup, sensitivity, regression, and sequential analysis. RESULTS: UDCA reduced the risk of ultrasound-verified gallstones compared with control interventions (risk ratio, 0.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.18-0.60; number needed to treat, 9). This effect was significantly larger in trials of diets alone (risk ratio, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.11-0.25) than in trials of patients who underwent bariatric surgery (risk ratio, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.21-0.83) (test for subgroup differences, P =.03). UDCA reduced the risk of cholecystectomy for symptomatic stones (risk ratio, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.07-0.53). Diets high in fat content also reduced gallstones, compared with those with low fat content (risk ratio, 0.09; 95% CI, 0.01-0.61). The meta-analyses were confirmed in trials with a low risk of bias but not in sequential analysis. No additional beneficial or harmful outcomes were identified. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, during weight loss, UDCA and/or higher dietary fat content appear to prevent formation of gallstones.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.cgh.2013.11.031

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64 of 64 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • In patients with asymptomatic gallstones treated with UDCA for 6 months after bariatric surgery, only 1 of 61 required cholecystectomy and 1 reported symptoms, while 59 remained asymptomatic.

    “Della Penna et al. [49] followed up 61 patients with asymptomatic gallstones treated with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) for 6 months after bariatric surgery (either laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy).”

    From Excess Body Weight and Gallstone Disease (2021) · cites this paper as [49]

  • Ursodeoxycholic acid reduces the formation of cholesterol gallstones during rapid weight loss induced by very low-calorie diets or bariatric surgery.

    “There is robust evidence that ursodeoxycholic acid reduces the formation of cholesterol gallstones during rapid weight loss induced by very low-calorie diets or bariatric surgery.6,14,15”

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. American Medical Association (AMA). 2013 Annual meeting: report of the Council of Science and Public Health—is obesity a disease? (CSAPH report 3-A-13). Available at: http://www.ama-assn.org/resources/doc/csaph/a13csaph3.pdf. Accessed April 11, 2013.
  2. Gluud, 2012, Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group: about the Cochrane Collaboration (Cochrane Review Groups (CRGs)), Liver, 4

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Metadata

Authors
Stokes, C. S., Gluud, L. L., Casper, M., & Lammert, F.
Affiliations
  • Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes (DE)
  • University of Copenhagen (DK)
Corresponding author
Lammert, Frank
Venue
Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2014-07
Volume
12
Issue
7
Pages
1090-1100.e2
ISSN
1542-3565 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2027044236
Cited by
118
References
64
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 5
FWCI
0.88
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Falk Foundation
  • National Institutes of Health
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gallbladder and Bile Duct Disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Bariatric Surgery and Outcomes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Urology › Kidney Stones and Urolithiasis Treatments
Keywords
ursodeoxycholic acid, gallstones, gallstone prevention, weight loss, high-fat diet, bariatric surgery, cholecystectomy, obesity, dietary fat
MeSH terms
Humans, Ursodeoxycholic Acid, Weight Loss, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Treatment Outcome, Gallstones, Diet, High-Fat

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