A new study published in Scientific Reports suggests that adults in the United States who consume higher amounts of dietary sugar have a greater risk of developing gallstones, according to findings released on Mar. 29.
The research highlights a potential link between modern dietary habits and gallbladder health. Gallstones are a common condition worldwide and can lead to complications such as cholecystitis and pancreatitis, which contribute significantly to healthcare costs.
Researchers analyzed data from 8,975 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 2017 and 2023. The analysis found that every additional 100 grams per day of total sugar intake was associated with a 41% increase in the odds of having gallstones after adjusting for demographic, clinical, lifestyle, and dietary factors. "These findings highlight excessive sugar consumption as a potential, modifiable risk factor. However, further longitudinal and mechanistic studies are needed to confirm causality and clarify the underlying biological mechanisms," the authors wrote.
The study used several methods including multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for various confounders such as age, sex, body mass index (BMI), race, education level, marital status, smoking status, income ratio (PIR), drinking status, physical activity levels, and comorbidities. Machine learning models were also employed; these ranked sugar intake sixth among predictors for gallstone risk after factors like age and BMI.
While previous research has linked high intake of sugars such as sucrose and fructose with metabolic disorders or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease benefits when reduced refined sugars are consumed—the role of dietary sugars specifically in gallstone formation had remained unclear until now. The current study's results suggest that reducing daily sugar consumption could serve as an accessible preventive measure against gallstones at both individual and population levels.
Despite its strengths—including robust statistical modeling—the authors caution that because their analysis is cross-sectional with self-reported outcomes it cannot establish causality: "Looking ahead," they say,"these findings may help inform public health guidance and clinical practice although prospective studies...are needed to confirm these associations."
