Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gallbladder polyps (GBP) are a common clinical finding that can express malignant potential. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether vegetarianism protects against GBP, together with other putative risk factors.
METHODS: A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted with subjects who received a health check-up from July 2005 to December 2011. Korean Buddhist priests, who are obligatory vegetarians by religious belief, were identified as vegetarians (vegetarian group) and compared with a non-vegetarian control group sampled from those coming for health check-ups at the same institution.
RESULTS: Out of 18,483 subjects, GBP were found in 810 (4.4%). Al though GBP tended to be less common in the vegetarian group (23 [3.5%] out of 666) than in control group (787 [4.4%] out of 17,817), the difference was insignificant statistically (p=0.233). By logistic regression, old age (OR=1.61, 95% CI=1.1 9-2.26 for 30-39 years; OR=1.47, 95% CI=1.08-1.98 for 40-49 years), male gender (OR=1.51, 95% CI=1.31-1.75), high BMI (OR=1.18, 95% CI=1.00-1.39 for ≥ 23.0 kg/m(2) and < 25.0 kg/m(2) ) and HBsAg positivity (OR=1.53, 95% CI=1.19-1.98) were independent risk factors of GBP.
CONCLUSIONS: GBP was significantly associated with old age, male gender , high BMI and HBsAg positivity, but not with vegetarianism.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 268-273 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | The Korean journal of gastroenterology = Taehan Sohwagi Hakhoe chi |
| Volume | 66 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1 Nov 2015 |
Keywords
- Gallbladder polyp
- Metabolic syndrome
- Risk factors
- Vegetarian diet