Cholecystectomy Is Linked With Lower Respiratory Exchange Ratio and Higher Lipid Oxidation and Sleep Energy Expenditure
Authors' conclusion
Independent of obesity, an absent gallbladder is associated with decreased RER and increased lipid oxidation and sleep EE rates, indicating that the gallbladder may have a role in metabolic fuel selection that has implications for metabolic health.
Study context
- Population
- Healthy Southwestern Indigenous American adults (222 males, age 28 ± 6 years)
- Participants
- 384 adults
- Exposure
- History of gallbladder surgery vs no surgery
- GBX(+)n = 39
- GBX(-)n = 345reference
- Outcome
- EE, RER and substrate oxidation
- Follow-up
- 24-h
Methodological details24-h respiratory chamber, general linear models adjusted for age, sex, body composition and glucose regulation
- 24-h respiratory chamber
- General linear models adjusted for age, sex, body composition and glucose regulation
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
RER, lipid oxidation and sleep EE (adjusted)
Β (respiratory exchange ratio (RER))
−0.01
P = 0.01
lower RER with GBX(+)
Β (lipid oxidation)
79 kcal/day
P = 0.03
RER, lipid oxidation and sleep energy expenditure (EE) (adjusted)
Β (sleep EE)
78 kcal/day
P = 0.006
RER, lipid oxidation and sleep EE (adjusted)
- Other EE variables and macronutrient oxidation rates not significantly associated with GBX history
- all p's > 0.1
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | P value |
|---|---|
| Baseline characteristicsGBX(+) vs GBX(-) · 31 ± 7 vs. 27 ± 6 years; older with GBX(+) | P = 0.0002 |
| Baseline characteristicsGBX(+) vs GBX(-) · 95% vs. 36% | P < 0.0001 |
| Baseline characteristicsGBX(+) vs GBX(-) | P < 0.0001 |
- Baseline characteristics: 40% ± 5% vs. 32% ± 8%; body composition differences sex related
Original publication
Cholecystectomy Is Linked With Lower Respiratory Exchange Ratio and Higher Lipid Oxidation and Sleep Energy Expenditure. Obesity (Silver Spring). Published 12 February 2026. doi:10.
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