How often you poop could influence multiple health factors, study finds

How often you poop may influence more than whether you’re uncomfortably bloated. The frequency may also affect your gut microbiome and risk of chronic disease. Gut bacteria that digest fiber, for example, seemed to thrive in participants who pooped once or twice a day. But bacteria associated with the upper gastrointestinal tract or protein fermentation were enriched in those with diarrhea or constipation, respectively. The authors also found younger people, women, and participants with a lower body mass index had less frequent bowel movements. This quandary is what motivated the researchers to study the associations between bowel movement frequency and genetics, the gut microbiome, blood plasma chemistries, and blood metabolites to assess whether the pattern may be negatively affecting the body prior to a disease diagnosis. The authors examined the health and lifestyle data of more than 1,400 healthy adults who had participated in a scientific wellness program. Self-reported bowel movement frequency was separated into four groups: constipation, low-normal, high-normal, and diarrhea. The authors also found that several blood metabolites and blood plasma chemistries were linked with different frequencies. Byproducts of protein fermentation such as p-Cresol-sulfate and indoxyl sulfate were enriched in constipated participants. Blood levels of indoxyl sulfate were also associated with reduced kidney function. And chemistries linked with liver damage were higher in people with diarrhea, who also had more inflammation. The authors believe their findings are preliminary support for a causal link between bowel movement frequency, gut microbial metabolism, and organ damage. Understanding gut health is key, and future research could investigate the connection between bowel movement frequency and kidney disease. Bowel movement frequency isn’t the most ideal measure of bowel function, and stool consistency may be a better indicator. Many of the findings are based on participants with low to normal bowel movement frequency, and bacterial species in participants’ stools were detected at a genus level rather than specific species. Participants with generally normal bowel movement frequency also had important differences in lifestyle, such as consuming more fruits and vegetables, being better hydrated, and exercising more. The study highlights the role of dietary factors in affecting gut function. Our understanding of the interactions between gut bacteria and bodily functions is growing, but more research is needed before making sweeping changes based on the findings of this study.