Scientists are beginning to uncover the secrets of golden bowel habits. In a new study this week, a team found evidence that how often a person poops affects their long-term health. They also found that the best time seemed to be once or twice a day to go to the toilet, and that certain factors were linked to better bowel frequency, such as eating more fruits and vegetables.
This research was conducted by scientists from the following countries Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle, some of whom have more personal motivations behind their research. Two of the authors, including ISB researcher Sean Gibbons, have lost their lives to Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease is thought to be caused by a complex combination of genetic and environmental factors, and some research suggests our gut health may be part of it.
“Many people with chronic diseases, including Parkinson’s disease and chronic kidney disease, have experienced symptoms of constipation for years before diagnosis,” Gibbons, who studies the human gut microbiome, told Gizmodo in an email. “However, currently, It is unclear whether these bowel movement frequency (BMF) abnormalities are a driver of the disease or simply a consequence of the disease.”
To better understand this potential connection, Gibbons and his team analyzed data from customers of consumer health company Arivale. As part of signing up for Arivale, customers provide detailed information about their medical history and current health, including the composition of their gut microbiome (sadly, the company itself closure 2019). The team looked at data from more than 1,400 people who reported no major health problems.
Early research has shown that the timing of our bowel movements can have a large impact on our gut microbiome, and from there, our health. For example, when everything is going well, our gut bacteria absorb dietary fiber from our diet, producing by-products that are vital to maintaining homeostasis. But Gibbons explains that when we have chronic constipation, bacteria begin to use up the fiber and start feeding on available protein. This protein fermentation produces toxic compounds that leak into our bloodstream. The team speculates that, given enough time, the buildup of this toxin could be harmful to our long-term health. At the same time, chronic diarrhea can make our intestines more acidic and oxygen-rich, making it harder for some healthy gut bacteria to survive.
“Overall, these effects increase inflammation and put some burden on the liver (due to the faster loss of bile acids produced by the liver). That’s what we’re looking at right now,” Gibbons said.
When the research team looked for these toxic byproducts in people’s blood, they quickly discovered an area that was perfect for defecation. Volunteers believed that those with “high normal” bowel movements, who had one or two bowel movements per day, tended to have the lowest bowel movements. They also seemed to have fewer signs of inflammation and overall better liver health. With this in mind, the research team decided to use this group as a baseline to compare poop frequency with other groups.
Gibbons’ team found that even for people who otherwise feel healthy, the timing of bowel movements appears to be important. Those who were frequently constipated tended to have the highest levels of toxins produced by gut bacteria, including toxins that were linked to poorer kidney function in these subjects. They are also more likely to show signs of depression and anxiety. People who have frequent diarrhea tend to have more inflammation and poorer liver function.
The team’s findings are publish It was published Tuesday in the journal Cell Reports Medicine.
Finding these toxins in seemingly healthy people suggests that long-term disruption of our bowel frequency may increase the risk of serious health problems down the road. But Gibbons warned that more work is needed to confirm whether this is the case. For now, he hopes his team’s work will highlight the importance of regularity. This study does have some encouraging news for those concerned about their poop.
For example, the team found that people in the study who reported eating more fruits and vegetables tended to have better bowel movements. Gibbons noted that there are already other known ways to reduce the risk of constipation and diarrhea.
“You can stay healthy [bowel movement frequency] and diet (whole foods, eating Wider variety and richer plants, taking fiber supplements), better hydration (drinking more water) and exercise (regular walking, running, going to the gym),” he says.
As for the team, they plan to continue studying how the gut microbiome affects our health. This work should eventually involve future clinical trials testing whether specific changes in the gut microbiome can promote healthy aging and reduce the risk of chronic disease.
