Individuals with a history of gallstone disease may have elevated risk of developing coronary heart disease, findings of a new study have revealed.

Gallstone disease is one of the most prevalent and costly gastrointestinal disorders in the U.S. Gallstones are hard particles that develop in the gallbladder, which stores the bile fluids that aid in the body's digestion of fat and fat-soluble vitamins.

The development of gallstones is often attributed to excess cholesterol. They also occur more often in women than in men. People who have a family history of the condition likewise tend to have increased likelihood to have gallstones.

While gallstones do not show symptoms in many people, they can cause abdominal pain if they block a bile duct usually after a heavy meal. When this happens the treatment may involve surgically removing the gallbladder.

The condition shares similar risk factors with coronary heart disease, such as obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure and poor diet. Now, a new research shows another association between the two conditions.

In a new study published in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, Lu Qi, from Tulane University in New Orleans, and colleagues looked at the link between a history of gallstones and development of coronary heart disease by conducting a meta-analysis of seven studies involving 842,553 participants and 51,123 cases of coronary heart disease.

They found that people who have suffered gallstones have 23 percent increased risk of developing heart disease.

In a separate analysis of three studies involving 269,142 participants, the researchers also found that in healthy subjects with history of gallstone disease who were not diabetic, obese or had high blood pressure, the risk of developing coronary heart disease is greater compared with the subjects who have these health conditions.

"The associations seemed to be stronger in individuals who were not obese, not diabetic, or were normotensive, compared with their counterparts," the researchers wrote in their study. "The results from meta-analysis revealed that a history of gallstone disease was associated with a 23% (15%-33%) increased CHD risk."

One theory that may help explain the link between gallstone disease and coronary heart disease is that gallstones may influence bile acid secretion, which has been linked to cardiovascular risk factors.

Gut microbiota has also been linked to cardiovascular disease and patients with gallstones tend to have abnormal abundance and metabolism in their gut microbiota.

The researchers said that aiming to prevent gallstone may benefit cardiovascular health.