Abstract: Large-scale biobanks continue to uncover unexpected links between everyday habits and long-term health outcomes. In a prospective study of nearly 400,000 participants from the UK Biobank, researchers examined how cheese consumption relates to the risk of cholelithiasis (gallstones), a condition affecting up to 1 in 5 adults worldwide. Using dietary questionnaires linked with hospital, primary care, and self-reported records, the study tracked new cases over time and found a clear, dose-dependent association between higher cheese intake and lower gallstone risk.
Importantly, the study went beyond observation to explore biological pathways. Causal mediation analysis showed that part of this protective association was explained by higher levels of HDL cholesterol, suggesting a possible metabolic mechanism. While the authors note that residual confounding cannot be ruled out, the findings highlight how biobank-scale data can connect diet, biomarkers, and disease risk in a real-world population. This work reinforces the growing role of biobanks in nutritional epidemiology and preventive health research.
Read this interesting article here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41538-025-00644-z
