High level of deoxycholic acid in human bile does not promote cholesterol gallstone formation

Table 3 Bile acid composition in patients with cholesterol gallstones and gallstone free subjects

Group	n	Cholic acid%	Deoxycholic acid%	Chenodeoxy-cholic acid%	Lithocholic acid%	Ursodeoxy-cholic acid%
Total gallstone	122	38.9 ± 1.0	24.2 ± 1.2	34.5 ± 0.9	1.0 ± 0.1	1.3 ± 0.2
High DCA	13	22.7 ± 1.7	50.0 ± 2.1	24.5 ± 1.7	1.4 ± 0.4	1.3 ± 0.9
Low DCA	109	40.8 ± 1.0	21.1 ± 0.9	35.7 ± 0.9	0.9 ± 0.1	1.3 ± 0.2
Gallstone free	46	46.1 ± 1.6b	20.7 ± 1.6	30.6 ± 1.0a	0.6 ± 1.6	1.7 ± 0.4

Notes: Mean values ± Standard Error of the Mean. n = Number of observations,

^aP < 0.05 vs Total gallstone,

^bP < 0.001 vs Total gallstone.