[Fecal weight and its daily fluctuation in young women. Part 2. Related parameters]

In the first part of this survey, we examined the influence of one's dietary habits and physical conditions on the frequency of defection and fecal weight. We concluded a need for a time series analysis for further investigation. In the present supplementary study, we analyzed the correlation between fecal weight and nutrient intake, dietary intake and exercise and the daily variation in defection and its related aspects.

The survey was conducted for two 30-day sessions, during which we amassed data for four 20- to 22-year-old females, focusing an eight different parameters, includeing the fecal weight, the number of defecations per day, the weight of free-access food items, and kinds of dietary intake. We first standardized the measured data: for comparison of the date from the two time series analyses, we used the "relative", standardized weight, after minimizing the difference between the measured weight and the average weight. This allowed examination individual of correlation coefficients, for the relation between the two time series, in terms of the cycles of the constituents.

Time series analysis indicated that variation in fecal weight occurs 3- or 4-day cycles with a correlation coefficient higher than 0.7. Fecal weight and physical exercise or dietary intake are correlated; the total dietary intake over the two previous days is the most important influence followed by how much dietary fiber one continues. A correlation with the total quantity of water was also found, with lower correlation coefficients for fat intake and physical exercise. Regarding relationships between fecal weight and dietary compornent: the greatest correlations were with vegetables, followed by fruits, cereals, potatoes, and starch in that order.