From sex to BMI, they affect bowel movements

Age, sex and body mass index are “significantly related” to bowel movement frequencyaccording to a study reported by EFE that delves into the relationship between long-term health and the frequency of defecations.

The results are published in the journal “Cell Reports Medicine” and the research, which examines, among others, clinical and lifestyle data from more than 1,400 adults, is led by researchers from Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, United States.

According to the authors, the frequency of defecation can have a major influence on physiology and health.

The study focused on generally healthy adults and excluded those with certain medical conditions or taking medication.

The team classified self-reported bowel movement frequency into four groups: constipation (one or two bowel movements per week), normal-low (between three and six a week), normal-high (between one and three bowel movements a day) and diarrhea, details a statement from the aforementioned institute.

They then looked for associations between bowel movement frequency and factors such as demographics, genetics, gut microbiome, blood metabolites and plasma chemistry.

The study found that age, sex and body mass index (BMI) were “significantly related” to bowel movement frequency. Specifically, younger people, women and those with a lower BMI tended to have fewer bowel movements.

The researchers demonstrated, among others, that the composition of intestinal microbiomes of the participants was a telltale sign of bowel movement frequency.

For example, they found that bacteria associated with protein fermentation or the upper gastrointestinal tract tended to be enriched in people with constipation or diarrhea, respectively.

Similarly, several blood metabolites and plasma chemistries showed significant associations with the frequency of bowel movementssuggesting potential links between gut health and chronic disease risk.

Specifically, byproducts of microbial protein fermentation known to damage the kidneys, such as p-cresol and indoxyl sulfate, were higher in the blood of people with constipation, while chemicals linked to liver damage were higher in people with diarrhea.

As expected, the scientists say, those who reported eating a high-fiber diet, staying hydrated and exercising regularly tended to rank higher when it came to bowel movements.

Chronic constipation has been associated with neurodegenerative disorders and the progression of chronic kidney disease in patients with active disease, says Sean Gibbons, author of the article.

However, he adds that it remains unclear whether bowel movement abnormalities are early drivers of chronic disease and organ damage, or whether these retrospective associations in sick patients are merely coincidental.

“Here, in a generally healthy population, we show that constipation, in particular, is associated with blood levels of microbial toxins known to cause organ damage, prior to any diagnosis of disease,” Gibbons summarizes.

The study also explored associations between bowel movement frequency and anxiety and depression, indicating that mental health history is connected to frequency.

“Overall, this work shows how bowel movement frequency can influence all body systems and how aberrant periodicity can be an important risk factor in the development of chronic diseases,” Gibbons concludes.