Quantitative analysis of major, minor and trace elements in gallbladder bile of patients with and without gallstones

The concentration of 25 major, minor and trace elements in human bile was determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Gallbladder bile was obtained during surgery from patients with cholesterol gallstones, pigment stones and with no biliary tract abnormalities (controls). Comparison of the concentration of elements (microgram per gram of solids) did not reveal any significant differences among the three patient groups. The in vitro nucleation time was not related to the concentration of any element measured.