Cholelithiasis in patients treated with a very-low-calorie diet
Abstract
One hundred seventy-nine obese patients (mean body mass index = 36.3) were retrospectively evaluated for the development of cholelithiasis associated with the use of a 2530-kJ/d (605-kcal) very-low-calorie diet (VLCD). Nine percent of patients had preexisting gallstones and 11% of patients developed gallstones either during or within 6 mo of completing the diet. Six percent had subsequent cholecystectomy. Ursodeoxycholic acid administered to one patient resulted in spontaneous stone dissolution whereas spontaneous dissolution occurred in three patients. Surveys of patients at three other programs using the same diet yielded similar incidence of gallstones. We conclude that rapid weight loss associated with the use of VLCD is associated with a significant incidence of gallstone formation. VLCD should be physician supervised because resolution of cholelithiasis spontaneously, with stone passage, or dissolution with ursodeoxycholic acid therapy may reduce the need for cholecystectomy.
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Gallstones and gallbladder removal are common in people who lose weight rapidly through very-low-calorie diets or bariatric surgery.
“Cholelithiasis and cholecystectomy are common in patients who achieve rapid weight loss with very-low-calorie diets(54) or bariatric surgery.(55)”
From Semaglutide for the treatment of obesity (2023) · cites this paper as [54]
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Semaglutide for the treatment of obesity
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- Authors
- Kamrath, R., Plummer, L., Sadur, C., Adler, M., Strader, W., Young, R., & Weinstein, R.
- Corresponding author
- Kamrath, RO
- Venue
- The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1992-07
- Volume
- 56
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 255S-257S
- ISSN
- 0002-9165 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2122092368
- Cited by
- 47
- References
- 8
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 0.90
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Gallbladder and Bile Duct Disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Bariatric Surgery and Outcomes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Diet and metabolism studies
- Keywords
- gallstones, very low calorie diet, rapid weight loss, obesity, cholecystectomy, ursodeoxycholic acid, gallstone dissolution, stone passage
- MeSH terms
- Energy Intake, Cholecystectomy, Cholelithiasis, Diet, Reducing, Female, Humans, Male, Obesity, Retrospective Studies, Risk Factors, Weight Loss
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