Researchers in Washington State have conducted a revealing study on how bowel movement frequency can influence overall health. They examined the lifestyle habits of more than 1,400 healthy adults, focusing on the number of weekly bowel movements and discovering patterns that could be crucial to well-being.
The study found that the ideal frequency of bowel movements is one to two per day. Those who followed a high-fiber diet, exercised regularly and stayed well hydrated were most likely to achieve this frequency.
In contrast, those who suffered from constipation or defecated more than three times a day were more likely to have toxic intestinal bacteriaassociated with organ damage and mental health problems, such as depression.
Dr. Sean Gibbons, senior author of the study and an associate professor at the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle, said the findings could help inform strategies to control bowel movement frequency, even in healthy people, to optimize health and well-being.
The research was conducted with 1,425 adults who were clients of the now-defunct wellness company Arivale. The sample included 83% white participants and 8.5% Asian, aged between 19 and 89, with 65% being women.The average body mass index (BMI) of the participants was 27, considered overweight.
Participants reported the number of weekly bowel movements and were classified into four groups:
- Constipation (one or two bowel movements per week)
- Normal-low (three to six per week)
- Normal-high (one to three per day)
- Diarrhea (more than three times a day).
In addition, researchers collected stool and blood samples, and compiled data on exercise habits, lifestyle, diet, mental health and stress levels.
Frequency of bowel movements
The results showed that age, sex and BMI were significantly associated with bowel movement frequency. Younger people, women, and those with a lower BMI tended to have less frequent bowel movements. Those who maintained a high-fiber diet, good hydration and regular exercise had healthier intestinal flora, associated with ideal bowel movement frequency.
However, Those with constipation or diarrhea tended to experience protein fermentation in the gut, where toxic bacteria break down carbohydrates and sugars, producing toxins that can enter the bloodstream.
Johannes Johnson-Martinez, lead author of the study and a PhD student at the Institute of Systems Biology, explained that If stool remains in the intestine for too long, microbes consume all the available fiber, producing beneficial short-chain fatty acids. Once fiber is depleted, the intestinal ecosystem resorts to protein fermentation, generating harmful toxins.
This process can produce harmful byproducts associated with chronic diseases, such as liver and kidney damage. Dr. Gibbons noted that chronic constipation has been linked to neurodegenerative disorders and the progression of chronic kidney disease. However, Until now it was not clear whether abnormalities in bowel movement were an early cause of these diseases or simply a coincidence. in already sick patients.
The study also found that people with mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, were more likely to fall into the “high-normal” or “diarrheal” categories. This suggests a possible connection between bowel movement frequency and mental health.
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