1.   Our data show that the addition of lecithin shifts biliary cholesterol from the vesicular to the non-vesicular phase.

2.   Biliary cholesterol is probably secreted as phospholipid vesicles and phospholipids are probably the main cholesterol carriers in bile.

3.   The reduced metastability of biliary cholesterol in the gall bladder bile of patients with cholesterol gall stones has been well shown.

4.   These findings suggest that factors, in addition to biliary cholesterol saturation, are responsible for the formation of cholesterol gall stones.

5.   Several indirect lines of evidence suggest that nucleation may be more important than biliary cholesterol supersaturation in the pathogenesis of recurrent gall bladder stones.

6.   Our emphasis on biliary cholesterol saturation in the pathogenesis of recurrent stones, therefore, may have been incorrect.

7.   Initially, we postulated that any protective effect of ursodeoxycholic acid against gall stone recurrence would be mediated through changes in biliary cholesterol saturation.

8.   Legume seeds, however, which are high fibre foods may actually increase biliary cholesterol saturation and probably predispose to gall stone formation.

9.   This increases biliary cholesterol content and favours nucleation of cholesterol monohydrate crystals.