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How often we have bowel movements may well reveal clues about our overall health. A recent study carried out on more than 1,400 healthy adults sheds light on the link between our intestinal comfort (notably the frequency of stools) and the health of our body, particularly of the intestinal microbiota, kidneys and liver.
A recent study published in the journal Cell Reports
Medicine highlights the link between bowel movement frequency and overall health. The findings suggest that having a bowel movement once or twice a day is associated with various health conditions.
Previous research has linked constipation to an increased risk of infections, as well as diarrhea and an increased prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases. However, this work, often focused on sick patients, made it difficult to distinguish between cause and consequence, the researchers explain in their study.
Four categories to assess gut health
To explore this question further, the research team, from the Institute for Systems Biology, analyzed clinical data, lifestyle habits and biological samples from more than 1,400 healthy adults. Participants were classified into four categories based on the frequency of their bowel movements: constipation (one to two times per week), low normal (three to six times per week), high normal (one to three times per day), and diarrhea.
The results show that people suffering from constipation have increased levels of toxins such as p-cresol sulfate and indoxyl sulfate in their blood. These substances, resulting from the fermentation of proteins by intestinal bacteria in the absence of fiber, can be particularly harmful to the kidneys, explains the research team in their article.
Diagram summarizing the principle of the study. Participants provided blood and stool samples and answered detailed questionnaires about their diet, health and lifestyle. © Johnson-Martínez et al., Cell Reports, 2024
Conversely, individuals with frequent episodes of diarrhea showed clinical signs of inflammation and liver damage. This is due to excessive excretion of bile acids, normally recycled by the liver to facilitate the digestion of fats.
The study also revealed an “optimal zone” for bowel movement frequency, located between once and twice a day. In this range, beneficial, fiber-fermenting gut bacteria tend to thrive, contributing to better gut health.
Adopt habits that promote optimal bowel movement frequency
Researchers observed that people eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, staying hydrated properly, and engaging in regular physical activity were more likely to be in this sweet spot. Demographic differences were also noted: younger people, women and individuals with lower body mass index tended to have less frequent bowel movements. These variations could be attributed to hormonal, neurological or dietary differences between the sexes, the researchers specify.
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This study invites a more nuanced vision of intestinal well-being. Stool frequency reflects complex interactions between diet, microbiota and the general condition of the body. By favoring lifestyle habits that promote intestinal balance, it is possible to reduce certain risks, such as chronic inflammation or kidney and liver complications.
Beyond its results, this research also highlights the importance of personalizing the medical approach according to individual variations. Far from a universal model, it opens the way to a medicine that takes into account the subtleties of lifestyle, biological differences and environmental factors. A reflection on health which seems, paradoxically, to begin where few of us usually look.
