Association Between Alpha-1-Acid Glycoprotein and Gallstone Risk in US Adult Women

Strategic Insights -

Research has shed new light on the complex relationship between alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and gallstone risk in US adult women. A recent study, conducted by researchers at the First Affiliated Hospital, discovered a significant association between AGP levels and gallstone risk. The study, which analyzed data from 1,652 adult women from the 2017-2020 NHANES database, found that higher levels of AGP were linked to a higher risk of gallstones. Furthermore, the researchers found that serum uric acid (SUA) played a mediating role in the AGP-gallstone relationship, accounting for 14.76% of the total effect. The findings of this study have important implications for our understanding of the pathogenesis of gallstones and may inform future research into the prevention and treatment of this common biliary disorder.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found a significant association between alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) levels and gallstone risk in US adult women, with the highest AGP quartile (0.950 g/L) being associated with a 1.72-fold higher risk of gallstones compared to the lowest quartile (0.629 g/L) (OR = 2.72, 95% CI: 1.31-5.65; p = 0.014).
  • The researchers used multivariate logistic regression, restricted cubic spline curves, subgroup analyses, and causal mediation analyses to evaluate the association between AGP levels and gallstone risk.
  • The study found that serum AGP levels were significantly associated with gallstone risk in non-Hispanic whites, low-income individuals, and smokers.
  • Serum uric acid (SUA) partially mediated the AGP-gallstone relationship, accounting for 14.76% of the total effect.
  • The researchers found that the association between AGP levels and gallstone risk was strongest in the highest quartile of AGP levels (0.950 g/L).
  • The study highlights the importance of considering the potential mediating role of serum uric acid in the AGP-gallstone relationship.

Statistics:

  • The study analyzed data from 1,652 adult women from the 2017-2020 NHANES database.
  • The researchers found that the highest quartile of AGP levels (0.950 g/L) was associated with a 1.72-fold higher risk of gallstones compared to the lowest quartile (0.629 g/L) (OR = 2.72, 95% CI: 1.31-5.65; p = 0.014).
  • Serum uric acid (SUA) accounted for 14.76% of the total effect in the AGP-gallstone relationship.

Sources:

  • Uric acid mediates the association of alpha-1 acid glycoprotein with gallstones in adult women in the United States. Scientific Reports, 2025, 15(1):1-13. (Scientific Reports - http://www.nature.com/srep/index.html)
  • First Affiliated Hospital Researchers Describe Findings in Gallstones (Uric acid mediates the association of alpha-1 acid glycoprotein with gallstones in adult women in the United States). Gastroenterology Week. September 1, 2025; p 422.