Effect of oral administration of 'essential' phospholipid, beta-glycerophosphate, and linoleic acid on biliary lipids in patients with cholelithiasis.

6 patients with radiolucent cholelithiasis underwent randomized successive 3-week trials on each of the following medications: beta-glycerophosphate, linoleic acid, or purified soybean lecithin. Bile-rich duodenal fluid was obtained prior to the study and following each treatment period. Soybean lecithin feeding effected a qualitative change in biliary lecithin with increased fatty acid unsaturation, but no significant improvement in biliary cholesterol saturation or lipid composition changes including a proportionate increase in biliary phospholipids resulted from any treatment program. A 6-month therapeutic trial with soybean lecithin plus cholic acid failed to show a therapeutic response indicative of gallstone dissolution in the 6 patients.