To assess the role of metal elements in the pathogenesis of human gallstones, the concentrations of some metal elements (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Cu, Fe, Pb, Ni, and Zn) in four chemically different types of human gallstones (pure cholesterol, cholesterol +calcium carbonate, cholesterol + bilirubin and calcium bilirubinate) were measured by atomic aJjsorption spectrometry. It was obsetVed that the concentrations of the metal elements varied greatly with the chemical nature of stone. Calcium, magnesium and manganese were found in high range of concentrations in gallstones composed of cholesterol +calcium carbonate, whereas, high concentrations for sodium, potassium, copper, iron, lead, nickel and zinc were seen in calcium bilirubinate stones. Sexwise comparison of the data for cholesterol gallstones, showed that the levels for calcium, sodium, magnesium, manganese, iron, lead and nickel were higher in gallstones recovered from females as compared to that of males, whereas reverse was true for the concentrations of potassium and zinc. Comparison of the data for cholesterol gallstones from females of above and below 45 years age revealed no significant differences between the subjects of the two age groups. The findings of the present study may suggest that the metal elements calcium, sodium, potassium, copper, and iron do contribute towards the formation mechanism of human gallstones.
M I BANGER ,F D KHAND ,M Y KHUHAWAR ,M Y KHUHAWAR ,F D KHAND ,N A CHANNA ,M I BANGER ,