Objective: To explore the correlation and mechanism between serum adiponectin and estrogen level in female patients with gallstones.
 Methods: A total of 62 female gallstone patients were analyzed, of which 33 cases were premenopausal and 29 cases were postmenopausal. Sixty age-matched normal physical examination cases were selected as controls. Gallbladder stones were diagnosed by B-Ultrasound. Height and weight of the patients were measured to calculate body mass index (BMI). Blood glucose was determined by Glucose Oxidase method. Lipids were determined by turbidimetry method in automatic biochemical analyzer. Serum adiponectin and estrogen were determined by radioimmunoassay.
 Results: Compate with control group, serum adiponectin level was significantly decreased, and estrogen level was significantly ncreased in premenopausal and postmenopausal patients with gallbladder stones. There was a positive correlation between serum adiponectin and HDL-C and ApoA1 level.
 Conclusions: Low serum adiponectin level may be a predisposing factor of gallstone that is initiated by estrogen, and independent of obesity and diabetes.