[The possibility of prediction of cholesterol saturation of gallbladder bile]

Using stepwise regression we studied the possibility to determine the cholesterol saturation index (CSI) of gallbladder bile from analysis of fasting serum bile acid, 24 hour urine bile acid or serum lipids (cholesterol and triglyceride) in 31 gallstone patients. Two multiple regression equations were obtained to predict the CSI of bile from fasting serum bile acid compositions based on absolute concentration and relative concentration. The CSI of the gallbladder bile could not be predicted from 24 hour bile acid or serum lipids. Four critical values were calculated from regression equations, which predicted the CSI of bile with the efficiency above 70 percent. This study indicated for the first time that the prediction of CSI of gallbladder bile can be obtained from an analysis of fasting serum bile acid and hence it is possible to prevent gallstone formation at the stage of cholesterol supersaturated bile production.