Women who suffer from gallbladder disease will be happy to find a simple treatment to reduce the risk of further attacks.

This study is a statistical analysis of over 13,000 men and women. Some of the subjects had a history of gallbladder disease and some showed evidence of gallbladder disease on testing but did not have symptoms of problems.

Low vitamin C (ascorbic acid) levels were found in women who had symptomatic or asymptomatic gallbladder disease. The group with the lowest vitamin C levels showed the highest incidence of disease. This correlation was not found in men.

In women, vitamin C supplementation was associated with a 34% lower incidence of gallbladder disease. In women who drank alcohol, the vitamin C supplementation was associated with a 50% reduction of gallbladder disease incidence.

Vitamin C is needed for the conversion of cholesterol to bile acids and cholesterol is an important component of gallstones. The stones may be made of cholesterol that is not properly converted to bile acids by the liver because of ascorbic acid deficiency.

CONCLUSION: Ascorbic acid affects the change of cholesterol to bile acids and can alter the risk of gallbladder disease in women and in laboratory animals. Although clinical studies have not been done, it would make sense for women with asymptomatic and symptomatic gallbladder disease to consider vitamin C supplementation, especially if they drink alcohol. This does not apply to men.

To read the author’s abstract, click to the link to the author’s title above.

PMID: 10761957.

Summary #013.