Researchers Say This Bowel Movement Frequency Is a Sign of Better Health
When it comes to our health, bowel movement frequency is more than just a matter of comfort—researchers have found that it could be a window into your overall well-being. A study published in Cell Reports Medicine found that bowel movement frequency directly impacts the gut microbiota and is linked to diseases like dementia and chronic kidney disease.
The gut microbiome is full of trillions of microorganisms, which play a vital role in digesting food, producing essential nutrients, and regulating immune function. But when bowel movement frequency deviates from the norm, it can disrupt the balance.
The study found that infrequent bowel movements—often associated with constipation—are linked to a significant shift in gut microbial activity. Instead of breaking down dietary fiber into short-chain fatty acids, the microbiota in these individuals shifts toward protein fermentation, which produces harmful toxins.
The frequency of bowel movements can can also have a large influence on an individual's physiology and health.
Over 1,400 participants were chosen in the study to explore how bowel movement frequency affects the body's molecular profile before any disease is present. Participants underwent health and lifestyle surveys, along with blood and stool sampling.
Researchers discovered that variations in bowel movement frequency were associated with differential gut microbiota composition and changes in blood metabolites. Plus, age, sex, and body mass index were significantly associated with bowel movement frequency.
Irregular bowel movement frequencies are linked to shifts in gut microbiota, reduced production of short-chain fatty acids, and increased levels of harmful microbially derived toxins like 3-indoxyl sulfate, which are associated with declining kidney function and other chronic disease risks.
Among a generally healthy population, researchers show that constipation is associated with blood levels of microbially derived toxins known to cause organ damage, prior to any disease diagnosis, says study author Sean Gibbons, Ph.D., an associate professor at the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle.
The sweet spot of bowel movement frequency was found to be one to two times per day. Individuals practicing healthy lifestyle choices—like eating a fiber-rich diet and regularly exercising—tended to find themselves in this zone.
"I do hope that this work will kind of open clinicians' minds a bit to the potential risks of not managing bowel movement frequencies," Gibbons tells AFP, adding that doctors tend to view irregular bowel movements as a nuisance.
