Gallstone Disease

NIDDK guidance recommends a healthy dietary pattern that emphasizes fiber-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, beans, peas, and whole grains, while limiting refined carbohydrates, added sugars, and unhealthy fats as part of reducing gallstone risk.

• Guidance concerns gallstone risk reduction, not treatment of existing gallstones.
• Do not claim any individual food prevents gallstones.
• Do not claim dietary changes dissolve existing gallstones.
• Do not claim a high-fiber dietary pattern guarantees prevention.
• Symptomatic gallstones can require medical or surgical treatment.

Do not infer beyond gallstone-risk guidance.

• Source 1: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gallstones/eating-diet-nutrition
• Source 2: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gallstones/definition-facts

Rapid weight loss and very-low-calorie dieting can increase the risk of gallstone formation. NIDDK advises slower, sustained weight loss rather than crash dieting when weight reduction is appropriate.

• Do not imply weight loss itself is harmful.
• Risk depends on the rate and circumstances of weight loss.
• Very-low-calorie diets and bariatric surgery represent specific higher-risk contexts.
• Do not prescribe an individualized rate of weight loss.
• Do not claim slower weight loss eliminates gallstone risk.

Do not infer beyond gallstone-risk guidance.

• Source 1: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gallstones/dieting