Consumption of heme iron: A major factor in pigment gallstone formation

Objective: To study the various risk factors responsible for pigment gallstone formation. As there is not any reported medicine which can dissolve pigmented gallstone. Design: Study of 526 cases of cholelithiasis and 526 control cases was done. Query forms were filled with various risk factors like age, gender, BMI, diabetes, genetics, diet, smoking, etc. Collected data and hypothesis were statistically analysed. ICP-OES was done to know the elementary composition of gallstone. Statistical Analysis: Univariate and multivariate were done using SPSS to conclude the risk factors for gallstone disease. Chi-square was applied for the relation between types of stone and age while ANOVA and post hoc ANNOVA, Least significant difference (LSD) were use for the analysis of variance between prevalence of different types of stone with risk factors. Results: In our study, non-veg diet and ground water rich in iron beyond the permissible limit, as a drinking source were at higher risk factor for the gallstone disease (p<0.0001). Non-veg diet as a rich source of heme iron and supplementation of iron from drinking water source may led to pigmented gallstone formation. Conclusion: Controlled dietary habit and use of supply water may reduce the chance for pigmented gallstones.