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coffee, fewer gallstones Men who drink coffee regularly have a lower
risk of developing gallstones than those who do not drink
coffee regularly, according to a new study published at
the Harvard School of Public Health in United States.
In this study involving 46,000 men,
investigators assessed the consumption of coffee and
other caffeinated drinks with a follow- up period of 10
years. During this period, 1081 subjects reported
symptomatic gallstone disease, of whom 885 required
surgical removal of gall bladder. After adjusting for
other known or suspected risk factors, the risk of
symptomatic gallstone disease declined with increasing
caffeine intake.
Men who drank 2-3 cups of coffee a
day had a 40% lower risk while those who drank 4 or more
cups a day had a 45 % lower risk.
But only coffee with caffeine,
which is known to stimulate contractions in the
galibladder and lower cholesterol concentrations in bile,
was associated with the lower risk. Caffeinated tea and
soda did not have the same effect, the researchers
reported.
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