Dietary fish oil inhibits cholesterol monohydrate crystal nucleation and gallstone formation in the prairie dog

N‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid attenuates cholesterol gallstones by suppressing mucin production with a high cholesterol diet in mice

“…This epidemiological observation is supported by evidence in human studies, where healthy subjects fed n‐3 PUFA supplements (1.5 g n‐3 PUFA per day over 6 weeks) showed a decrease in their biliary cholesterol saturation index (CSI) and percentage concentration of cholesterol in bile, with no change in phospholipids or bile acids . In animal models, African green monkeys and prairie dogs have been used to demonstrate the anti‐lithogenic effects of fish oil. However, n‐3 PUFA effects, such as increase in biliary phospholipids and suppression of MUC gene expression even with LD, had not been documented in an experimental mouse model.…”

Can fish oil dissolve gallstones?

“…5 In animal studies, the effects of dietary w-3 PUFAs vary between species (Table 1). In experiments with prairie dogs 13 and African green monkeys, 8 biliary cholesterol concentrations remain unaltered. In contrast, cholesterol in bile increases in rats, 6,9,12 and decreases in hamsters.…”

“…In prairie dogs, the crystal observation time was prolonged fourfold 13 and cholesterol monohydrate crystals decreased. 7,13 Gallstones were also decreased in prairie dogs, 13 and also in hamsters. 10 The results of human studies conflict with those conducted in animals.…”

“…w-3 PUFAs inhibit cholesterol monohydrate crystal precipitation and gallstone formation in prairie dogs by increasing the stability of biliary phospholipid vesicles through decreasing ionized calcium and protein in bile of the gallbladder without changing either the concentration of biliary lipids or the CSI. 13 In both animal 7,8 and human models, 17 w-3 PUFAs might alter vesicular stability and cholesterol-carrying capacity by modifying the composition of phospholipids in bile, thereby suppressing cholesterol precipitation.…”

“…12 ROS production through the NADPH oxidase enzymatic system is also a powerful cyto/ bacteriostatic weapon used by activated inflammatory cells. 13 Interestingly, (portal) endotoxemia, an emerging factor for obesity associated inflammation and metabolic disturbances including NAFLD/NASH, is associated with hepatic oxidative stress. In animal models, anti-oxidants such as lipoid acid blunted endotoxininduced inflammation and restored normal insulin production.…”