The Pace of Poop Could Shape Your Health, New Analysis Finds
A 2023 review of data from thousands of participants links how long stool spends in the gut to distinct microbiome profiles and health outcomes. Faster transit tends to favor carbohydrate-digesting bacteria, slower transit favors protein-utilizing microbes, and both extremes show reduced microbial diversity. Incorporating transit time improves predictions of gut microbiota beyond diet alone and could influence responses to probiotics and treatments, highlighting potential for personalized diet and therapy based on an individual’s gut rhythm.