Gallstones

According to one older report, people with gallstones were likely to have insufficient stomach acid.¹ Some doctors assess adequacy of stomach acid in people with gallstones and, if appropriate, recommend supplementation with betaine HCl. Nonetheless, no research has yet explored whether such supplementation reduces symptoms of gallstones.

Phosphatidylcholine (PC)—a purified extract from lecithin—is one of the components of bile that helps protect against gallstone formation. Some preliminary studies suggest that 300–2,000 mg per day of PC may help dissolve gallstones.^2,3 Some doctors suggest PC supplements as part of gallstone treatment, though the supporting research is weak.⁴

Milk thistle extracts in capsules or tablets may be beneficial in preventing gallstones. In one study, silymarin (the active component of milk thistle) reduced cholesterol levels in bile,⁵ which is one important way to reduce gallstone formation. People in the study took 420 mg of silymarin per day.

According to preliminary research, a mixture of essential oils dissolved some gallstones when taken for several months.⁶ The greatest benefits occurred when the oils were combined with chenodeoxycholic acid, which is available by prescription.⁷ However, only about 10% of people with gallstones have shown significant dissolution as a result of taking essential oils. Peppermint oil is the closest available product to that used in the research described above. Use of peppermint or any other essential oil to dissolve gallstones should only be attempted with the close supervision of a doctor.

Vitamin C is needed to convert cholesterol to bile acids. In theory, such a conversion should reduce gallstone risks. Women who have higher blood levels of vitamin C have a reduced risk of gallstones.⁸ Although this does not prove that vitamin C supplements can prevent or treat gallstones, some researchers believe this is plausible.⁹ One study reported that people who drink alcohol and take vitamin C supplements have only half the risk of gallstones compared with other drinkers, though the apparent protective effect of vitamin C did not appear in non-drinkers.¹⁰ In another trial, supplementation with vitamin C (500 mg taken four times per day for two weeks before gallbladder surgery) led to improvement in one parameter of gallstone risk (“nucleation time”), though there was no change in the relative level of cholesterol found in bile.¹¹ While many doctors recommend vitamin C supplementation to people with a history of gallstones, supportive evidence remains preliminary.