Effects of low-fat food on gallbladder contraction and sonographic image quality

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the impact of consuming a navel orange, a low-fat food item, on gallbladder contraction and sonographic image quality. Materials and Methods: Sixty-six healthy Chinese participants underwent sonographic evaluation of their gallbladder volume (GBV) and anterior wall thickness (AWT) after fasting for at least 6 hours. This protocol was repeated 120 minutes after consuming a navel orange. An experienced sonographer rated the quality of the gallbladder images on a five-point Likert scale. Results: There was no significant change in GBV (14.15 cm³ preprandial vs 14.00 cm³ postprandial, p=.073), AWT (0.154 cm vs 0.157 cm, p=.101), or image quality (both rated 5, p=1.000) after orange intake. GBV correlated with body mass index (p < .05). Among various age groups, no significant differences were noted, across the measured parameters, for both preprandial and postprandial states (p > .05). Conclusion: In this cohort of participants, navel oranges served as an alternative to fasting for gallbladder sonographic preparation and did not affect image quality.