Constipationabdominal cramps or bloating… THE digestive disorders can be characterized in different ways. But our habits in terms of transit intestinal could provide valuable information about our health.
In fact, researchers from the Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) in Seattle, USA, looked at the frequency of bowel movements and what this implies for overall health. They noticed that suffering from chronic constipation could impact the intestinal ecosystem and increase the risk of certain chronic diseases. Their results are published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine.
Intestinal transit: certain factors such as age, BMI or mental health could impact it
To reach these conclusions, the researchers relied on a panel of more than 1,400 healthy people enrolled in a start-up’s health program. The start-up collected stool samples and analyzed them. Participants were asked to provide information on their lifestyle habits and the number of times they had to go to the toilet per week. This data allowed the researchers to classify them into four groups of people:
- those who are constipated (one to two stools per week);
- having a “normal-low” average number of stools (between three and six stools per week);
- having a “normal-high” average number of stools (between one and three stools per day);
- suffering from diarrhea.
The researchers found that some data such as “age, gender and body mass index (BMI) were significantly associated with stool frequency.” Specifically, they found that “Young people, women and people with a lower body mass index tended to have fewer bowel movements.”
In addition, certain factors can affect intestinal transit. According to them, people who suffer from mental health disorders such as anxiety et the Depression would be more likely to suffer from constipation.
Not having regular bowel movements may increase the risk of toxin production
What are the health implications of bowel movements? Based on previous research, the study authors hypothesized that bowel movements can impact the gut ecosystem. In fact, people who had bowel movements once or twice a day had an increase in gut bacteria, which is often associated with good health.
Conversely, researchers have found that when stools remain in the intestine for too long, it can have adverse health effects. According to them, it exhausts fibers available and leads to the production of toxins linked to an increase in the risks of chronic kidney diseases and even neurodegenerative diseases.
“Overall, this study shows how stool frequency can influence all body systems and how abnormal stool frequency can be an important risk factor in the development of chronic diseases.”summarizes in a press release Dr. Sean Gibbons, associate professor at the ISB and co-author of the study.
Sources :
- Aberrant bowel movement frequencies coincide with increased microbe-derived blood metabolites associated with reduced organ function – Cell Reports Medicine (Juillet 2024)
- Timing is everything: Study finds link between bowel movement frequency and overall health – Communiqué (16/07/2024)
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