Tauroursodeoxycholic acid, ursodeoxycholic acid and gallbladder motility in gallstone patients and healthy subjects.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Randomized controlled trial evaluating acute and short-term pharmacological effects
What was done
Ultrasonography was used to measure fasting and postprandial gallbladder volumes in healthy subjects and gallstone patients following acute ingestion of 10 mg/kg of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), or placebo. Gallbladder sonography was repeated in gallstone patients after one month of daily TUDCA or UDCA (10 mg/kg/day).
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical values, effect estimates, or p-values. Gallstone patients exhibited gallbladder stasis (higher fasting and residual volumes) and reduced postprandial emptying compared to healthy controls. Acute ingestion of TUDCA or UDCA did not alter postprandial emptying in either group. After one month of treatment, fasting gallbladder volume increased further in gallstone patients, while postprandial emptying remained unchanged.
Why it matters
This study shows that therapeutic doses of UDCA and TUDCA do not restore or acutely alter postprandial gallbladder emptying in patients with gallstones, despite inducing an increase in fasting gallbladder volume over one month.
Limits
The abstract omits sample size, participant demographics, randomization details, and all numerical data and statistical test values. Observations were limited to one month of follow-up, leaving longer-term effects on biliary dynamics and stone dissolution uncharacterized.
Cited by
- context Gallbladder congestion is associated with heart palpitations, and TUDCA can help alleviate this symptom.