Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2025
Novel In Vivo Micro-Computed Tomography Imaging Techniques for Assessing the Progression of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Published on: March 24, 2023
Bidirectional association between NAFLD and gallstone disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational
Shengying Gu1, Shanshan Hu1, Shuowen Wang1
1Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200080, Shanghai, China.
Background:
Growing evidence indicates an association between NAFLD and gallstone disease (GD), while some does not support this. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the bidirectional association between NAFLD and GD.
Research Design And Methods:
Five electronic databases were searched from inception to May 2022. The association was analyzed based on the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) with Reviewer Manager 5.3.
Results:
Ten studies involving 284,512 participants met the criteria for GD predicting the onset of NAFLD. GD patients had a higher incidence of NAFLD (OR:1.48, CI:1.32-1.65, p < 0.00001), especially the incidence of moderate-to-severe NAFLD (OR:1.63; CI:1.40-1.79), with females at a higher risk (OR: 1.84; CI: 1.48-2.29). The inverse association was explored in eight studies involving 326,922 participants. The GD incidence in NAFLD patients was higher (OR:1.71, CI:1.63-1.79, p < 0.00001) and may increase due to female sex (OR: 4.18; CI: 1.21-14.37) and high BMI (OR: 1.80; CI: 1.36-2.56), compared with the non-NAFLD group. Besides, this bidirectional association was also confirmed in the Chinese population.
Conclusions:
The findings supported positive concurrent and bidirectional relationships between NAFLD and GD. Therefore, clinicians may alert the possibility of NAFLD in patients with GD and vice versa.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Diseases of the Liver and Gallbladder
Cirrhosis is characterized by the scarring of hepatic lobules in the liver, which are replaced by fibrous tissue, affecting the liver's normal functioning. NAFLD, on the other hand, is caused by an excessive build-up of fat in the liver, not...
01:17Gallbladder
The gallbladder's anatomy consists of three regions: the fundus, body, and neck. Extending from the neck, the cystic duct joins...
01:25Ultrasound II: Endoscopic Ultrasound and FibroScan
Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS):
01:11Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
01:24Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which occurs when the immune system becomes active and causes swelling, pain, and disruptions in organ function. Pancreatitis can manifest as either an acute or chronic condition.
Acute pancreatitis arises suddenly and lasts for a brief duration, while chronic pancreatitis is a long-term affliction...
01:29Chronic Pancreatitis II: Collaborative Care
Assessment: