Statins may decrease gallstones risk

BASEL, Switzerland, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Swiss researchers have linked long-term statin use -- a class of drugs that lower cholesterol -- with decreased risk of gallstones that require surgery.

Dr. Michael Bodmer of University Hospital in Basel, Switzerland, and colleagues conducted a long-term observational study involving a total of 27,035 gallstone surgery patients and 106,531 matched controls and identified 2,396 patients and 8,868 controls using statins.

The researchers found that compared with non-use, recent statin use did not reduce risk a great deal, but the odds ratio started to decrease after five prescriptions -- about 18 months of treatment.

"The risk estimate was consistent across age and sex groups. Adjustment for important risk factors for gallstone disease did not materially alter the results," the researchers said in a statement."

The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, suggested taking statins decreased cholesterol biosynthesis in the liver and may therefore have lowered the risk of cholesterol gallstones.