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

Table 1 Clinical data of patients with cholesterol gallstones and gallstone free subjects

Group	n	Female/male ratio(% Female)	Median age years (range)	Body mass index kg/m2(n)	Plasma cholesterol mmol/L (n)	Plasma triglycerides mmol/L (n)
Total gallstone	122	96/26 (79)	49 (18-83)	25.0 ± 0.3 (111)	5.7 ± 0.1 (81)	1.5 ± 0.1 (82)
High DCA	13	10/3 (77)	62b (37-74)	28.3 ± 1.3b (10)	6.4 ± 0.3a (11)	2.2 ± 0.4a (10)
Low DCA	109	86/23 (79)	45 (18-83)	24.7 ± 0.4 (101)	5.6 ± 0.1 (70)	1.5 ± 0.1 (72)
Gallstone free	46	38/18 (83)	45 (20-71)	23.2 ± 0.5c (45)	5.8 ± 0.2 (36)	1.4 ± 0.1 (36)

Notes: Mean values ± Standard Error of the Mean. n = number.

^aP < 0.05 vs Low DCA,

^bP < 0.005 vs Low DCA,

^cP < 0.01 vs Total gallstone.

Table 2 Occurrence of crystals and lipid composition in gallbladder bile of patients with cholesterol gallstones and gallstone free subjects

Group (n)	Single stone% (n)	Crystals positive%(n)	Median nucleation time days, (range)(n)	Cholesterol mol%	Bile acid mol%	Phospholipids mol%	Total lipid concentration g/dl	Cholesterol saturation%
Total gallst one(122)	29 (116)	79 (112)	6(1-56)(46)	7.8 ± 0.3	68.6 ± 0.6	23.6 ± 0.4	9.4 ± 0.4	112 ± 4
High DCA (13)	42 (12)	73 (11)	14 (2-28) (4)	8.1 ± 0.6	68.1 ± 1.6	23.8 ± 1.2	8.2 ± 1.0	116 ± 10
Low DCA (109)	28 (104)	79 (101)	3 (1-56) (42)	7.8 ± 0.3	68.7 ± 0.6	23.6 ± 0.5	9.6 ± 0.5	112 ± 5
Gallstone free (46)	-	11a (45)	17a(1-35)(24)	5.8 ± 0.3a	71.3 ± 0.8	22.9 ± 0.7	13.1 ± 0.6a	79 ± 3a

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

^aP < 0.0001 vs Total gallstone.

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.