by Reed Mangels, PhD, RD, FADA
Gallstones are hard pebble-like substances, that form in the gallbladder. Many people aren’t aware that they have gallstones.
When these stones move around such that they block a duct—a tube-like passage that connects the gallbladder to the intestines—symptoms occur including nausea, vomiting, or pain in the abdomen, back, or just below the right arm. Surgical treatment may be needed.
Risk factors for developing gallstones include being female, older age, a family history, obesity, rapid weight loss, and having a low fiber diet.
Some older, small studies have found a lower risk of gallstones in vegetarian women (1, 2) than in non-vegetarian women, or no significant difference in gallstone prevalence in vegetarian men and women compared to meat eaters (3).
A recent study from Taiwan found that vegetarians and non-vegetarians had a similar prevalence of gallstone disease (4). Interestingly, women, whether vegetarian or non-vegetarian, were no more likely to have the disease than were men, although older age was a risk factor (4).
After a mean follow-up time of 13.8 years and after adjusting for a number of variables including smoking and alcohol intake, the EPIC-Oxford study found no significant difference in the risk of symptomatic gallstone disease in vegetarians compared to meat eaters (5).
When a further adjustment was done for body mass index (BMI), vegetarians had a higher risk (1.22, 1.06-1.41; p=0.006) for symptomatic gallstone disease compared to non-vegetarians. Among both vegetarians and non-vegetarians, those with the highest BMI had the highest risk of developing the disease (5).
The study authors weren’t able to find a reason why vegetarians might have a higher risk of gallstone disease.
References
2 thoughts on “Gallstone Disease in Vegetarians”
I was vegan for over 20 years (1999-2020) and learned that I had a huge (2cm) gallstone about the time I stopped being vegan out of concern about autonomic nervous system issues I developed in 2020 (trouble regulating my sleep, blood pressure, pupil dilation, saliva production, gut peristalsis). I started eating eggs (with yolk) after learning about choline deficiency, because I was desperate to figure out what was wrong with me, since that seemed to match the symptoms I was experiencing, and I found very fast relief! Eggs are a very potent source of choline (150mg/egg). I also started eating/drinking more soy then (which is by far the most potent vegan source of choline, but 1C of soymilk only provides ~50mg choline). I think long-term choline deficiency due to low choline diet and a propensity for choline deficiency due to my MTHFR and possibly PEMT gene variants caused that huge gallstone to develop. Choline helps to solubilize cholesterol. I was typically slightly above normal weight throughout my young adulthood, i.e. BMI 25 (though my weight did drop significantly around the time I was having these health issues, partly because I was afraid to eat anything since my gut wasn’t moving). I’m feeling much better now that I regularly consume eggs and soybeans! I think conflating veganism with vegetarianism is one reason these studies are often inconclusive. Eggs are very unique, nutritionally.
Sara,
I’m sorry to hear you felt bad on a vegan diet after 20 years. If someone in your situation wants to remain vegan, they could try a choline supplement rather than eat eggs.