The Influence of Calorie Intake and of Dietary Protein on the Bile Lipids

In 4 patients, operated on for cholesterol gallstones and having a T-tube in the main bile duct, five 7ml of bile samples were taken off each day during periods of 3 to 7 days, with either high-calorie, high-protein diets or low-calorie, low-protein diets. In one patient, one period of low-calorie, high-protein and one of low-protein, high-calorie was added. The relative molar concentrations of cholesterol, bile salts, and phospholipids were plotted within triangular coordinates. High-calorie, high-protein diets increase significantly the number of bile samples which fall outside the cholesterol solubilization area.