Effect of moderate exercise on bowel habit
1Department of Surgery, Baragwanath Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Gut
|August 1, 1991
Summary
Moderate exercise, including jogging and cycling, significantly speeds up whole gut transit time in healthy adults. This effect was observed without changes in stool weight, frequency, or dietary intake, highlighting exercise
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Exercise Physiology
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Gastrointestinal transit time is a key indicator of digestive health.
- The impact of moderate physical activity on gut motility requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of moderate aerobic exercise (jogging and cycling) on whole gut transit time in healthy adults.
- To determine if exercise influences stool characteristics or dietary intake.
Main Methods:
- A crossover trial involving ten healthy volunteers.
- Subjects alternated between daily one-hour sessions of treadmill running, bicycle ergometry, or resting.
- Whole gut transit time was measured using radio-opaque markers, with stool collection and analysis.
Main Results:
- Moderate exercise, both cycling and jogging, significantly accelerated whole gut transit time compared to rest.
- Whole gut transit decreased from 51.2 hours at rest to 36.6 hours (cycling) and 34.0 hours (jogging).
- No significant changes were observed in stool weight, defecation frequency, dietary fiber, or fluid intake.
Conclusions:
- Moderate intensity exercise is an effective modulator of gastrointestinal transit time.
- Exercise accelerates gut motility independently of changes in diet or stool output.
- Regular physical activity may benefit digestive regularity.
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