OBJECTIVE: biliary lithiasis is a multifactorial phenomenon that is decisiv
ely influenced by the composition of bile. We analyzed the presence of eigh
t metals in bile and compared their concentrations in healthy persons and p
atients with cholelithiasis.
METHODS: we studied bile from 119 patients who underwent cholecystectomy be
cause of symptomatic cholelithiasis, and from 25 control subjects in whom t
he gallbladder was removed for reasons other than cholelithiasis. Metal con
centrations were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The subje
cts were divided into subgroups according to age, sex and type of stone.
RESULTS: bile from patients with cholelithiasis contained significantly les
s of the essential element magnesium (Mg) and the toxic element lead (Pb) t
han bile from control subjects. Calcium (Ca) and strontium (Sr) concentrati
ons were also lower in patients with gallstones than in the control group,
although the differences were not significant.
CONCLUSIONS: biliary concentrations of Mg and Pb were significantly lower i
n patients with cholelithiasis than in the control group. The biliary excre
tion of Ca and Sr was lower in patients than in controls, although the diff
erences were not statistically significant.