New research suggests that how often you poop could impact your overall health and wellness. A team led by the Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) analyzed data from over 1,400 healthy adults to explore the connection between bowel movement frequency and various health factors.
The study, set to be published in Cell Reports Medicine on July 16, examined clinical, lifestyle, and multi-omic data from participants in the Arivale wellness program. Researchers categorized bowel movement frequency into four groups: constipation, low-normal, high-normal, and diarrhea.
Age, Sex, and BMI Influence Bowel Movements
The findings revealed significant associations between bowel movement frequency and demographics. Younger individuals, women, and those with lower body mass index (BMI) tended to have less frequent bowel movements.
Johannes Johnson-Martinez, the study’s lead author, explained the importance of bowel movement frequency on gut health:
“Prior research has shown how bowel movement frequency can have a big impact on gut ecosystem function,” said Johannes Johnson-Martinez, the lead author of the study. “Specifically, if stool sticks around too long in the gut, microbes use up all of the available dietary fiber, which they ferment into beneficial short-chain fatty acids. After that, the ecosystem switches to fermentation of proteins, which produces several toxins that can make their way into the bloodstream.”
The research team discovered that gut microbiome composition was strongly linked to bowel movement frequency. Fiber-fermenting bacteria, often associated with good health, thrived in individuals who had bowel movements once or twice daily. In contrast, those with constipation or diarrhea showed higher levels of bacteria associated with protein fermentation or upper gastrointestinal tract issues.
Blood Markers Reveal Potential Health Risks
The study also found connections between bowel movement frequency and various blood markers, suggesting potential links to chronic disease risk. People reporting constipation had higher levels of microbially derived protein fermentation byproducts known to cause kidney damage. Those reporting diarrhea showed elevated clinical markers associated with liver damage.
Dr. Sean Gibbons, ISB associate professor and corresponding author, highlighted the significance of these findings:
“Chronic constipation has been associated with neurodegenerative disorders and with chronic kidney disease progression in patients with active disease,” said Dr. Sean Gibbons, ISB associate professor and corresponding author of the paper. “However, it has been unclear whether or not bowel movement abnormalities are early drivers of chronic disease and organ damage, or whether these retrospective associations in sick patients are merely a coincidence.
“Here, in a generally healthy population, we show that constipation, in particular, is associated with blood levels of microbially derived toxins known to cause organ damage, prior to any disease diagnosis,” Gibbons said.
The research also explored connections between bowel movement frequency and mental health, finding that anxiety and depression history was linked to pooping patterns.
Unsurprisingly, participants who reported eating fiber-rich diets, staying well-hydrated, and exercising regularly tended to fall within the optimal bowel movement frequency range.
Dr. Gibbons concluded by emphasizing the study’s broader implications:
“Overall, this study shows how bowel movement frequency can influence all body systems, and how aberrant bowel movement frequency may be an important risk factor in the development of chronic diseases,” Gibbons said. “These insights could inform strategies for managing bowel movement frequency, even in healthy populations, to optimize health and wellness.”
This research sheds new light on the importance of bowel health in overall wellness and may lead to improved strategies for maintaining optimal digestive function.
