cron-web.org

[A1CR]

Rapid weight loss during our CR is a risk for not partaking
in the CR health
benefits. Now, it seems, in this paper, that too extreme
initial imposition of CR may predispose
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallstone development. Losing
about 1 kg/ or
over 2 pounds per week appeared to predispose the
development of gallstones
in the below-described double-blind placebo control
experiment. It
interested that the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallstone
text stated that
high http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilirubin level may lead
to bilirubin type
of gallstones, and elevated bilirubin levels have been found
in CRers among
us. A certain CRONie had higher than normal range
bilirubin when s/he commenced CR. Was there irony in
reasonable levels of bilirubin in our blood protecting from
cardiovascular disease, CR protecting from heart disease and
rapid CR
resulting in morbidity due to clearing of cholesterol from
our blood and the
accumulation of gallstones? Note that
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ursodeoxycholic_acid is used as
a control for
fish oil in the paper below and a drug used to reduce
gallstone formation
risk. See the http://tinyurl.com/y4dwgu URL for the free
full text article
described below.

Mendez-Sanchez N, Gonzalez V, Aguayo P, Sanchez JM, Tanimoto
MA, Elizondo J,
Uribe M.
Fish oil (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids beneficially
affect biliary
cholesterol nucleation time in obese women losing weight.
J Nutr. 2001 Sep;131(9):2300-3.
PMID: 11533270

It has been reported that intake of (n-3) polyunsaturated
fatty acids (PUFA)
reduces the risk of coronary heart disease and decreases
biliary cholesterol
saturation in the bile of gallstone patients. We
investigated the effect of
n-3 PUFA on cholesterol saturation index (CSI) and
nucleation time (NT) in
obese subjects who were losing weight. This was a double-blind,
placebo-controlled clinical trial. Obese women (n = 35) with
a body mass
index (BMI) > or = 30 kg/m(2), with no prior history of
gallstones or
cholecystectomy by ultrasound were first studied to ensure
absence of stones
or biliary sludge. The women were then assigned to a
hypocaloric regimen
[5.02 MJ (1200 kcal)/d] and to receive 1200 mg/d of
ursodeoxycholic acid
(UDCA), 11.3 g/d of (n-3) PUFA or a placebo for 6 wk. BMI,
CSI and NT were
recorded at baseline and at the end of the experimental
period. BMI
decreased 5.75 +/- 2.7%/mo (range, 1.5-12.42%/mo) during the
experiment. The
CSI did not change in any of the groups. Cholesterol NT
decreased
significantly in the UDCA and placebo groups, but not in the
(n-3) PUFA
group. None of the women had developed gallstones at 6 wk.
These results
suggest that (n-3) PUFA maintain the CSI and NT in obese
women during rapid
weight loss, which probably results in the prevention of
cholesterol
gallstone formation.