Etiology of cholesterol gallstones.

Formation of pure cholesterol stones is initiated by an excessive intake of highly purified carbohydrates, a large intake of animal fats and a restricted intake of vegetable fibers. When the protein content of the lithogenic diet was reduced, mixed or combined stones were formed in golden hamsters. These experimentally, dietarily produced gallstones had compositions and fine structures similar to those of human gallstones. Some mentions were made on black stones which were found in the aged golden hamsters fed with lithogenic diets.