The effects of acute exercise on gallbladder function in an adult female population

It has been suggested that aerobic exercise influences gallstone disease pathogenesis through its effects on gallbladder motility. The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the effects of acute aerobic exercise on gallbladder emptying. Gallbladder function was evaluated, via cholescintigraphy, in 12 healthy females after undergoing two experimental trials [i.e., postprandial (P) and exercise + postprandial (E + P))]. In the E + P trial, 60 min after injection of 99mTc disofenin, subjects exercised for 30 min at 65.3 +/- 0.9%, (mean +/- SEM) of VO2 peak on a recumbent leg ergometer, and then ingested 8 oz of a liquid meal to promote gallbladder emptying. In the P trial the meal was administered at the same time relative to the E + P trial; however, for the 30 min prior to meal ingestion subjects remained in a resting supine position. Postprandial gallbladder ejection fraction (EF) was nonsignificantly higher in the E + P trial (49.4 +/- 5.1%) than in the P trial (46.6 +/- 6.7%). Results of this study also indicated that during a fasted state the gallbladder undergoes significant periods of spontaneous emptying both at rest EF = 25 +/- 5.6% (P < 0.02) and during exercise EF = 17 +/- 4.3% (P < 0.01). In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that 30 min of aerobic exercise at 65% of VO2 peak does not effect gallbladder motility in a healthy, premenopausal, female population.