Regularity in Bowel Movements Improves Physiology, Reduces Risk of Toxins, and Supports Kidney Health
A recent study published on July 16 in Cell Reports Medicine highlights the importance of bowel movement frequency for long-term health, finding that having one or two bowel movements per day is optimal. The research found that this level of regularity is associated with better physiological outcomes and a reduced risk of toxins in the bloodstream, which can harm the kidneys.
The study, led by senior author Sean Gibbons from the Institute for Systems Biology, involved data from over 1,400 healthy adult volunteers. The participants’ bowel movement frequencies were categorized into four groups: constipation, low-normal, high-normal, and diarrhea. Gibbons noted that while irregular bowel movements are often dismissed by clinicians as a nuisance, they could be a significant indicator of health risks.
One of the key findings was that in individuals with constipation, the longer stools remain in the gut, the more harmful toxins, such as p-cresol sulfate and indoxyl sulfate, accumulate. These toxins are produced when gut microbes ferment proteins instead of fiber, which is essential for producing beneficial short-chain fatty acids. The buildup of these toxins can be particularly damaging to kidney health.
Demographically, younger people, women, and those with lower body mass indexes were found to have less frequent bowel movements. The study aims to raise awareness among medical professionals regarding the importance of managing bowel movement frequencies, as even in healthy individuals, irregularity could lead to negative health outcomes over time.
