Physical activity and decreased risk of clinical gallstone disease among post-menopausal women

Background. Physical activity may play a role in preventing gallstone disease. Methods. The activity/gallstone relationship was examined in post-menopausal women from the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF; 1986–1988), a prospective study of fracture risk factors in 8010 women (mean age = 71.1 years, SD = 4.9). Results. Multivariate logistic regression indicated women in the lowest two quartiles of physical activity, according to questionnaire, had a 59% {OR = 1.59 (1.11–2.29), P = 0.02} and a 57% higher risk {OR = 1.57 (1.11–2.23), P = 0.01} of developing gallstone disease compared to women in the highest quartile of activity (PTrend = <0.0001). Additionally, this relationship was examined in a cohort of 182 post-menopausal women (mean age 74.2 years, SD = 4.1) who participated in a randomized controlled trial of a walking intervention. Women in the randomized clinical trial in the lowest tertile of physical activity determined by a physical activity monitor had a higher risk of developing gallstone disease than women in the highest tertile of physical activity, 13% {OR-1.13 (1.01–1.28), P = 0.05, PTrend = <0.04}. Conclusion. Physical activity appears to be inversely related to the development of gallstone disease in post-menopausal women independent of body mass index.