Question explored with the scientific record
Is there any way to naturally remove gall bladder stones
The short version: the evidence for dissolving gallstones without surgery is thin, old, and limited to a specific kind of stone in a specific kind of patient.
The only intervention with any real trial data is a prescription bile acid called ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). Two small 1977 studies found that UDCA dissolved or shrank cholesterol gallstones in about 40% of patients [1, 2]. But those stones had to be small, radiolucent (not calcified), and in a functioning gallbladder [7]. A 1988 study found that even when stones dissolved, about half came back within 11 years [5]. And a 1994 trial found that UDCA did no better than placebo for stones formed during rapid weight loss [8]. The reason many stones resist dissolution is that they contain calcium carbonate shells, which bile acids cannot touch [6].
| Group | Complete dissolution | Partial or complete | Recurrence at 11 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| UDCA (1977 Lancet) | 5 of 31 (16%) | 13 of 31 (42%) | - |
| UDCA (1977 Japan) | 16 of 74 (22%) | 32 of 74 (43%) | - |
| UDCA (1988 Gut) | 55 of 100 (55%) | 64 of 100 (64%) | 49% |
The evidence for dietary or herbal "flushes" is absent from the retrieved literature. The studies on dietary fat and cholesterol here are about heart disease and cancer, not gallstones. No trial tested a "natural" protocol against placebo for stone dissolution.
My call: for a person with small, non-calcified cholesterol stones in a working gallbladder, UDCA has a modest chance of dissolving them, but recurrence is common and the evidence is 40 years old. For anyone else, or anyone hoping for a natural remedy, the evidence does not support it. Confidence: moderate for UDCA in the narrow case, low for any natural approach.
Sources examined 24
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DISSOLUTION OF CHOLESTEROL GALLSTONES BY URSODEOXYCHOLIC ACID
This study demonstrates that ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is effective in dissolving cholesterol gallstones in patients, with a notable success rate and no observed hepatotoxicity.
DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(77)90301-4 -
Clinical studies on dissolution of gallstones using ursodeoxycholic acid
This study evaluates the clinical effectiveness of Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in dissolving cholesterol gallstones in 74 patients, reporting a 43% overall effectiveness rate with minimal side effects.
DOI: 10.1007/BF02781340 -
Physical-chemical properties of chenodeoxycholic acid and ursodeoxycholic acid
This study investigates the physical-chemical properties of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), revealing significant differences in their critical micellar concentration, micellar molecular weight, and cholesterol solubilization efficiency, which may i…
DOI: 10.1007/BF02774276 -
Rowachol and Ursodeoxycholic Acid in Hamsters with Cholesterol Gallstones
This study compares the effects of Rowachol, a mixture of terpenes, and Ursodeoxycholic Acid (UDCA) on cholesterol gallstone dissolution in hamsters, finding that while UDCA prevented gallstone formation, Rowachol did not dissolve gallstones or alter bile composition significant…
DOI: 10.1097/00000441-198211000-00003 -
Recurrence and re-recurrence of gall stones after medical dissolution: a longterm follow up.
This study evaluates the long-term outcomes of medical dissolution therapy for gallstones, revealing a 55% complete dissolution rate and a recurrence rate of approximately 50% over 11 years.
DOI: 10.1136/gut.29.5.655 -
Calcium carbonate in cholesterol gallstones
This study analyzes twelve cholesterol gallstones to identify calcium carbonate polymorphs (calcite, vaterite, aragonite) and carbonate-apatite, maps their peripheral localization and association with pigments, and discusses how CaCO3-rich peripheries may contribute to resistanc…
DOI: 10.1016/s0168-8278(88)80464-1 -
Long-term ursodeoxycholic acid therapy is associated with reduced risk of biliary pain and acute cholecystitis in patients with gallbladder stones: A cohort analysis
This study investigates the long-term effects of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) therapy on biliary pain and acute cholecystitis in patients with gallstones, finding that UDCA significantly reduces these risks regardless of stone dissolution.
DOI: 10.1002/hep.510300108 -
Natural history and treatment with ursodiol of gallstones formed during rapid loss of weight in man
In a randomized double-masked trial of 22 adults with gallstones formed during rapid weight loss, ursodiol (1200 mg/day) did not increase gallstone dissolution within three months compared with placebo, while about half of stones disappeared spontaneously after weight loss cease…
DOI: 10.1007/bf02088135 -
Associations of fats and carbohydrates with cardiovascular disease and mortality—PURE and simple? – Authors' reply
This study discusses the implications of dietary fat intake on cardiovascular health, emphasizing that both observational studies and randomized trials do not support the hypothesis that low-fat diets reduce clinical events.
DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(18)30774-8 -
Associations between hypertriglyceridemia, dietary fat intake, oxidative stress, and endothelial activation in men
This study investigates the associations between dietary fat intake, hypertriglyceridemia, oxidative stress, and endothelial activation in men, revealing that high dietary fat consumption, particularly saturated fatty acids, is linked to increased markers of endothelial activati…
DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2006.03.007 -
Association between the APOB rs1469513 polymorphism and obesity is modified by dietary fat intake in Koreans
This study investigates the association between the APOB rs1469513 polymorphism and obesity, revealing that dietary fat intake modifies this relationship in a cohort of Korean individuals aged 40-59 years.
DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2014.10.007 -
Effects of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors, Dietary Fat Intakes and Gene–Diet Interactions on Peak Particle Diameters of Low-Density Lipoproteins
This study investigates the effects of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gene polymorphisms and dietary fat intake on the peak particle diameters of low-density lipoproteins (LDL-PPD) in a population of 674 participants, revealing significant gene-diet interactio…
DOI: 10.1159/000324531 -
Phosphocholinetransferase activity in plasma membrane: Effect of diet
This study investigates the activity of phosphocholinetransferase in the plasma membrane and its response to dietary fat intake, revealing that activity is higher in weanling versus adult tissues and is influenced by dietary manipulation.
DOI: 10.1016/0006-291x(87)91322-2 -
The Association between Obesity-Risk Genes and Gestational Weight Gain Is Modified by Dietary Intake in African American Women
This study investigates the interaction between obesity-risk genes and dietary intake on gestational weight gain (GWG) in African American women, finding that certain genetic variants, particularly near the KCTD15 gene, may influence GWG in relation to dietary fat intake.
DOI: 10.1155/2018/5080492 -
Diet and breast carcinoma survival
This paper critiques the study by Holmes et al. on the association between dietary fat intake and breast carcinoma survival, highlighting the limitations of the epidemiological methods used and the need for further research on dietary interventions.
DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0142(19990901)86:5<751::aid-cncr7>3.0.co;2-7 -
Differences in coronary mortality can be explained by differences in cholesterol and saturated fat intakes in 40 countries but not in France and Finland. A paradox.
This study investigates the paradox of significantly higher coronary heart disease mortality rates in Finland compared to France, despite similar dietary cholesterol and saturated fat intakes, suggesting that other dietary factors, particularly the consumption of milk and plant …
DOI: 10.1161/01.cir.88.6.2771 -
Dietary changes in older Americans, 1977–1987
A retrospective analysis of dietary changes among Americans aged 65+ comparing the 1977-1978 NFCS with the 1987-1988 NFCS, showing modest shifts toward lower-fat foods and more low-fat options with relatively small changes in overall energy, fat, and dietary fiber intake, and hi…
DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/55.4.823 -
Meta-analysis: Dietary Fat Intake, Serum Estrogen Levels, and the Risk of Breast Cancer
This meta-analysis investigates the relationship between dietary fat intake, serum estrogen levels, and breast cancer risk, revealing significant reductions in serum estradiol levels among both premenopausal and postmenopausal women following dietary fat reduction.
DOI: 10.1093/jnci/91.6.529 -
Dietary fat intake and 6-year cognitive change in an older biracial community population
This study investigates the relationship between dietary fat intake and cognitive decline over six years in an older biracial community population, finding that higher intakes of saturated and trans-unsaturated fats are associated with greater cognitive decline.
DOI: 10.1212/01.WNL.0000123250.82849.B6 -
Comparison of self-reported and measured metabolizable energy intake with total energy expenditure in overweight teens
This study investigates the accuracy of self-reported energy intake compared to measured total energy expenditure in overweight adolescents, revealing significant underreporting biases associated with body weight and dietary fat intake.
DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.2008.26752 -
Gallstone ileus
This study reviews the clinical syndrome, risk factors, radiological and operative findings, and postoperative outcomes of 37 patients with gallstone ileus, highlighting the effectiveness of one-stage surgical procedures compared to two-stage approaches.
DOI: 10.1002/bjs.1800770707 -
Gallstone Ileus: Unfortunate Encounter
An elderly man with gallstone ileus causing small-bowel obstruction was treated with enterolithotomy alone due to poor condition, with CT aiding diagnosis and a discussion of single-stage versus two-stage surgical approaches.
DOI: 10.3329/bjms.v23i1.70762 -
Bouveret Syndrome: When There Are No Options
This case study presents an 85-year-old woman with Bouveret syndrome, highlighting the challenges in diagnosing and managing gastric outlet obstruction due to an impacted gallstone, ultimately leading to palliative care due to her deteriorating condition.
DOI: 10.1155/2015/215643 -
Bouveret syndrome and its imaging diagnosis
This Letters to the Editor compiles three radiology case discussions demonstrating the role of imaging in diverse contexts—left ventricular aneurysm after myocardial infarction diagnosed by cardiac CT angiography, Bouveret syndrome diagnosed with X-ray/ultrasound/CT, and a syste…
DOI: 10.1590/0100-3984.2016.0220