Higher relative fat mass was associated with a higher prevalence of gallstones in US adults

Abstract Aims Our study aimed to investigate the association between the relative fat mass (RFM) and gallstones in adults. Methods Information obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017–2023 was utilized to examine the correlation between RFM and gallstones base...

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Main Authors: Shangfen Xie, Shanni Ma, Xiaofeng Chen, Libiao Fang, Dongen Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:BMC Gastroenterology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-03715-3
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author Shangfen Xie
Shanni Ma
Xiaofeng Chen
Libiao Fang
Dongen Li
author_facet Shangfen Xie
Shanni Ma
Xiaofeng Chen
Libiao Fang
Dongen Li
author_sort Shangfen Xie
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Aims Our study aimed to investigate the association between the relative fat mass (RFM) and gallstones in adults. Methods Information obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017–2023 was utilized to examine the correlation between RFM and gallstones based on weighted multivariable regression analysis, smoothing curve fitting, and threshold effect analyses. Using subgroup analysis and interaction tests, we investigated whether this association remained consistent across different populations. We evaluated the effectiveness of RFM and Body Mass Index (BMI) in detecting gallstones through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and by calculating the area under the curve (AUC). Results The study involved 7618 participants in total. RFM mean was 30.74 ± 5.68. Based on the fully adjusted model, gallstone prevalence was positively associated with RFM (OR = 1.09; 95% CI: 1.07–1.11; p < 0.001), with a 9% increase for each unit increase in RFM. This correlation was particularly evident among individuals under the age of 40 and among females. Smoothing curve fitting revealed a nonlinear association between RFM and the occurrence of gallstones, with an inflection point identified at 19.8. Additionally, ROC analysis showed that RFM (AUC = 0.674) outperformed BMI (AUC = 0.634) as a predictor of gallstone formation. Conclusions Higher RFM was associated with higher gallstone prevalence. RFM may be a more useful tool for gallstone prediction than BMI in the general population. Gallstones may be alleviated or improved by RFM management at an early age. Clinical trial number Not applicable.
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spelling doaj-art-a53e113e694a47beba958a869d94bb172025-08-20T02:59:57ZengBMCBMC Gastroenterology1471-230X2025-03-0125111110.1186/s12876-025-03715-3Higher relative fat mass was associated with a higher prevalence of gallstones in US adultsShangfen Xie0Shanni Ma1Xiaofeng Chen2Libiao Fang3Dongen Li4Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo UniversityDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo UniversityDepartment of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo UniversityDepartment of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo UniversityDepartment of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo UniversityAbstract Aims Our study aimed to investigate the association between the relative fat mass (RFM) and gallstones in adults. Methods Information obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017–2023 was utilized to examine the correlation between RFM and gallstones based on weighted multivariable regression analysis, smoothing curve fitting, and threshold effect analyses. Using subgroup analysis and interaction tests, we investigated whether this association remained consistent across different populations. We evaluated the effectiveness of RFM and Body Mass Index (BMI) in detecting gallstones through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and by calculating the area under the curve (AUC). Results The study involved 7618 participants in total. RFM mean was 30.74 ± 5.68. Based on the fully adjusted model, gallstone prevalence was positively associated with RFM (OR = 1.09; 95% CI: 1.07–1.11; p < 0.001), with a 9% increase for each unit increase in RFM. This correlation was particularly evident among individuals under the age of 40 and among females. Smoothing curve fitting revealed a nonlinear association between RFM and the occurrence of gallstones, with an inflection point identified at 19.8. Additionally, ROC analysis showed that RFM (AUC = 0.674) outperformed BMI (AUC = 0.634) as a predictor of gallstone formation. Conclusions Higher RFM was associated with higher gallstone prevalence. RFM may be a more useful tool for gallstone prediction than BMI in the general population. Gallstones may be alleviated or improved by RFM management at an early age. Clinical trial number Not applicable.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-03715-3Relative fat massGallstone diseaseNHANESBody fat
spellingShingle Shangfen Xie
Shanni Ma
Xiaofeng Chen
Libiao Fang
Dongen Li
Higher relative fat mass was associated with a higher prevalence of gallstones in US adults
BMC Gastroenterology
Relative fat mass
Gallstone disease
NHANES
Body fat
title Higher relative fat mass was associated with a higher prevalence of gallstones in US adults
title_full Higher relative fat mass was associated with a higher prevalence of gallstones in US adults
title_fullStr Higher relative fat mass was associated with a higher prevalence of gallstones in US adults
title_full_unstemmed Higher relative fat mass was associated with a higher prevalence of gallstones in US adults
title_short Higher relative fat mass was associated with a higher prevalence of gallstones in US adults
title_sort higher relative fat mass was associated with a higher prevalence of gallstones in us adults
topic Relative fat mass
Gallstone disease
NHANES
Body fat
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-03715-3
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AT shannima higherrelativefatmasswasassociatedwithahigherprevalenceofgallstonesinusadults
AT xiaofengchen higherrelativefatmasswasassociatedwithahigherprevalenceofgallstonesinusadults
AT libiaofang higherrelativefatmasswasassociatedwithahigherprevalenceofgallstonesinusadults
AT dongenli higherrelativefatmasswasassociatedwithahigherprevalenceofgallstonesinusadults