| TABLE 3. Risk
factors for gallstone formation |
||
| Factor | Pigment stone | Cholesterol stone |
| Demography | ||
| Race Female sex Age Familial |
Asian ? + Hemoglobinopathies |
American Indian ++ ++ ++ |
| Diet | + | Obesity (high calorie) Weight reduction High animal fats Low fiber |
| Gallbladder stasis | + Total parenteral nutrition |
++ Reduced meal frequency Vagotomy Pregnancy |
| Female sex hormones | ||
| Parity/fertility Oral contraceptives Estrogens |
- - - |
Early menarche + + |
| Associated disease | Cirrhosis Hemolytic anemia Biliary infections |
Cystic fibrosis Ileal disease or loss Diabetes mellitus |
| Drugs | Clofibrate | |
| ++ = definite; + = probable; ? = questionable; - = unknown | ||