Gallstones News and Research

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Gallstones are small, pebble-like substances that develop in the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped sac located below your liver in the right upper abdomen. Gallstones form when liquid stored in the gallbladder hardens into pieces of stone-like material. The liquid—called bile—helps the body digest fats. Bile is made in the liver, then stored in the gallbladder until the body needs it. The gallbladder contracts and pushes the bile into a tube—called the common bile duct—that carries it to the small intestine, where it helps with digestion.

Microplastics found in human bile may be associated with gallstones

Findings show microplastics in bile may trigger cellular senescence, suggesting a link to gallstone disease and highlighting the need for further research.

9 Apr 2026

Study reveals bile as reservoir for microplastics in humans

Plastic pollution has become one of the defining environmental issues of modern life, and microplastics are now known to enter the body through food, drink, and air.

6 Apr 2026

Higher sugar intake raises gallstone risk in adults, study finds

A cross-sectional NHANES study of 8,975 U.S. adults found that higher total dietary sugar intake was associated with higher odds of gallstones, with each 100 g/day increase linked to a 41% rise after full adjustment. The findings suggest sugar intake may be a modifiable gallstone risk factor, but the study relied on self-reported gallstones and cannot establish causation.

29 Mar 2026

Taking a GLP-1? Doctors say not to forget about movement and mental health

Severe ankle pain drove Jelon Smart to start taking a weight loss injection a year and a half ago.

26 Mar 2026

Chemical signatures in blood could help detect gallbladder cancer

Researchers at Tezpur University in Assam, India, working with scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, have identified distinct chemical signatures in blood that could help detect gallbladder cancer earlier.

25 Feb 2026

Scorpion peppers caused him ‘crippling’ pain. Two years later, The ER bill stung him again.

Maxwell Kruzic said he was in such "crippling" stomach pain on Oct. 5, 2023, that he had to pull off the road twice as he drove himself to the emergency room at Mercy Regional Medical Center in Durango, Colorado. "It was the worst pain of my life," he said.

19 Dec 2025

Study compares the kidney, cardiovascular and mortality risks of three different GLP-1 RAs

Public interest in drugs known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, also called GLP-1 RAs, has surged in recent years, with popular types like semaglutide (sold under brand names like Ozempic and Wegovy) becoming known for their weight-loss effects.

20 Nov 2025

Study unravels the genetic shield against winter vomiting disease

Winter vomiting disease is caused by the Norovirus, which is most virulent during the colder half of the year.

24 Oct 2025

CDC confirms black-legged ticks can cause red meat allergy in humans

Researchers confirmed that black-legged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) can trigger alpha-gal syndrome in humans. A 10-year surveillance in Maine identified 23 confirmed cases of the meat allergy outside the lone star tick’s known range.

23 Mar 2025

Keto controversy? Experts say it’s here to stay

Low-carb and ketogenic diets offer sustainable solutions for chronic disease, enhancing metabolic health and supporting weight loss through dietary changes.

18 Mar 2025

Impact of excessive alcohol consumption on digestive health

Excessive alcohol consumption is a significant public health concern, responsible for approximately 6% of all deaths and contributing to 5.1% of the global disease burden.

12 Mar 2025

Progress in early detection and screening methods for pancreatic cancer

The evolution of pancreatic cancer screening technologies is pivotal for early detection, addressing key challenges to enhance survival rates and patient care.

11 Nov 2024

New stent sensor developed to detect blockages early

Stents to treat various blockages in the human body can themselves become blocked, but a new sensor developed at the University of Michigan for stents that are used in the bile duct may one day help doctors detect and treat stent blockages early, helping keep patients healthier.

1 Nov 2024

Liver function discovery could revolutionize treatments for cardiovascular disease

A new discovery about how the liver flushes cholesterol from the body could lead to more effective treatments for cardiovascular disease – the leading cause of death worldwide.

18 Oct 2024

Real-world evidence highlights safety profile of tirzepatide in managing type 2 diabetes

As more people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) are taking medications to help manage blood sugar levels and weight loss, concerns about whether these drugs are safe have emerged.

12 Sep 2024

Questioning the effectiveness of cholecystectomy for functional gallbladder disorder

Although surgery is a common treatment for patients diagnosed with biliary dyskinesia, or functional gallbladder disorder, a West Virginia University medical researcher is questioning why the practice has become so widespread when little clinical research is available.

20 Aug 2024