Daily Cheese May Prevent Gallstones

Consuming cheese regularly may offer a protective benefit against gallstones, a condition impacting millions. New research indicates that individuals who eat cheese daily were more than 26% less likely to develop gallstones. This finding emerges from the largest study to date, which examined the dietary habits of 400,000 UK adults over a ten-year period.

Even moderate cheese intake, such as once a week, was associated with a 13% reduction in gallstone risk. Researchers propose that the calcium content in cheese might aid in more frequent gallbladder emptying, thereby preventing cholesterol crystallization. Additionally, cheese may boost levels of 'good' cholesterol (HDL-C), facilitating safer cholesterol transport and reducing its accumulation in bile.

The study, published in Nature's NPJ Science of Food, highlights cheese as a potential dietary factor for gallstone prevention, possibly through its impact on HDL-C. Further scientific investigation is recommended to explore underlying biological mechanisms and validate these protective associations to inform public health guidance.