PHILADELPHIA -- Harvard researchers are finding evidence that a diet with plenty of vegetable oil, nuts and fish may help prevent gallstones.

This new benefit of a Mediterranean-style diet would be in addition to the benefits it provides when it comes to preventing heart disease and diabetes.

A 14-year study of more than 45,000 men found that those who ate more of the unsaturated fats that are found in those types of foods lowered their risk of gallstones by nearly one-fifth.

The findings are published in Monday's issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Unsaturated fats include both monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Monounsaturated fats are found in olive, peanut and canola oils and in avocados and most nuts. Polyunsaturated fats are found in safflower, corn and canola vegetable oils and in fatty fish such as salmon and tuna.

As many as one in four Americans are affected by gallstones at some time in their lives. In some cases, the stones can cause abdominal pain and vomiting, and the gall bladder has to be removed.

Additional Resources:

• Study Abstract
• Summary For Patients