Letter to the Editor
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2025. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jan 28, 2025; 31(4): 102452
Published online Jan 28, 2025. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v31.i4.102452
Exploring the links between gallstone disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and kidney stones: A path to comprehensive prevention
Jean Demarquoy
Jean Demarquoy, Université de Bourgogne, Institut Agro-INRAe, Dijon 21000, France
Author contributions: Demarquoy J was solely responsible for the conception, literature review, analysis, synthesis of information, drafting, and revision of the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors of this manuscript have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Jean Demarquoy, PhD, Professor, Université de Bourgogne, Institut Agro-INRAe, 6 Blvd Gabriel, Dijon 21000, France. jean.demarquoy@u-bourgogne.fr
Received: October 18, 2024
Revised: November 13, 2024
Accepted: November 19, 2024
Published online: January 28, 2025
Processing time: 73 Days and 13.9 Hours
Abstract

The recent study exploring the bidirectional associations between gallstone disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and kidney stone disease highlights a critical concern in chronic disease management. Given the rising global prevalence of these conditions, understanding their interconnections is essential. The study emphasizes the importance of shared risk factors, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and oxidative stress, and calls for multidisciplinary screening strategies. This approach would improve patient outcomes and reduce the socio-economic burden. While the study contributes valuable insights from a Chinese population, further research across diverse populations is necessary to validate and extend these findings globally. Ultimately, the research underscores the need for integrated prevention programs to better manage these interconnected diseases and improve health outcomes.

Keywords: Gallstone; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Kidney stone; Shared risk factors; Obesity; Insulin; Health

Core Tip: The study by Jiang et al reveals strong bidirectional associations between gallstone disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and kidney stone disease. These interconnected conditions share common risk factors such as obesity and insulin resistance. Recognizing this relationship is essential for integrated prevention and early detection strategies. A multidisciplinary approach, screening for multiple metabolic disorders, and lifestyle modifications are crucial for reducing disease progression. The study highlights the need for further research into causal mechanisms and the impact of diet and lifestyle on these interconnected diseases.