Abstract
Objective: Present study was designed to investigate the epidemiologic risk factors and role of diet as a risk factor for gallstone formation.
Methods: 654 gallstone patients and 675 controls (age, sex and locality matched eye patients, age range of 22.5 to 65.0 years) were randomly selected from different hospitals of Hyderabad and interviewed through a standard questionnaire developed for that purpose during January 2010 to December 2012. Eye patients were selected as control group, but those having diabetes, hypertension, or obesity with positive personal or family history of gallstones were excluded from the control group.
Results: Early marriages, sun exposure, use of oral contraceptives, having psychological or emotional problems and illiteracy were positively associated with gallstones. A significant inverse (p<0.05) association of vegetables, meat, and pulses with gallstones were seen in the present study. The incidence of gallstones was found to be more in consumers of raw green chilies, Fried food, raw tomatoes and the odds ratio for gallstones in green leafy vegetables (spinach) consumers increased with an increase in the frequency of vegetable servings per week. The effects of other dietary factors were less conclusive; additional studies are therefore necessary to clarify their relevance in the pathogenesis of gallstones.
Conclusion: The major reported risk factors for gallstones are illiteracy, followed by consumption of green chilies and fried food, and early marriages in southern Sindh, Pakistan.

Key words: Gallstones, Gallstone disease, Dietary risk factors, epidemiologic risk factors