Coffee drinking has been associated with a decreased risk of symptomatic gallstones, according to research conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health and published in the June 9, 1999 issue of the "Journal of the American Medical Association". The study found that men (over 46,000 men were studied) who drank two or three cups of coffee a day had a 40 percent lower risk of developing gallstones, while men who drank 4 or more cups of coffee a day decreased their risk by 45 percent. The study found no relation between gallstone prevention and tea, decaffeinated coffee, or caffeinated soft drinks.
Regular, vigorous, exercise may decrease the risk of gallstones. One study, reported by WebMD, found that men who performed endurance activities such as jogging, running, racquet sports, and brisk walking for 30 minutes five times a week, experienced a 34 percent reduction in risk for gallbladder disease. The amount of benefit derived from exercise was more dependent on intensity than type of exercise. Researchers theorize that exercise helps to normalize blood sugar and insulin levels which may contribute to gallstones, if abnormal.
There is also some research which suggests that taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as aspirin or ibuprofen offers some protection against the formation of gallstones. However, one study found no difference in the risk of gallstones in over 400 chronic arthritis patients who regularly took NSAIDS.
Another option, approved by the FDA for obese patients, is a drug called Actigall®. This is the first drug approved for the prevention of gallstones; it has been used in carefully selected patients since 1988.
